Hobbies and disability
In this post, we comment on some aspects of the relationship between hobbies and hobbies with disabilities, highlighting their importance, the need to eliminate barriers, and the most adapted activities for the disabled.
Disabled people, both physically and mentally, are capable of extraordinary achievements, which is why, in principle, any hobby or hobby is accessible to them. However, there are much more suitable hobbies and particular adaptations depending on the type of disability.
Disability is a condition that prevents or limits the person in their daily life. In this definition, physical problems and their interaction with the social environment. Disability admits various levels, from a partial limitation or difficulties to a severe inability to perform everyday activities.
The following types of disability can be distinguished:
motor (difficulty in the movement of a limb or general),
visual (blindness or significant loss of sight),
auditory (intense deafness or deaf-mutism),
language (often associated with auditory or motor)
intellectual (mental retardation, dementia)
psychic (serious chronic psychiatric illnesses)
visceral (serious and limiting diseases of internal organs such as the heart or lungs)
Sometimes more than one type of disability is combined in the same person.
In Spain, 9% of people have some disability.
Disabled people need to enjoy their leisure even more than non-disabled people since peace can help them better cope with or overcome disability. This is especially important in children because good leisure time can help their social formation and adaptation. On the other hand, it has been considered that a growing population, such as the elderly with Alzheimer’s or dementia, can benefit from physical and mental activity, and hobbies and interests favor this.
Access to hobbies, like all activities in the life of the disabled person, depends not only on their limitations but also on the facilities of their environment. In this sense, promoting accessible hobbies by social or private entities is essential. This includes eliminating barriers and developing accessories or technologies that facilitate the practice of the pursuit by the disabled.
There are many examples of physical aids such as ramps, handrails, elevators, wheelchairs, numerous orthopedic accessories and prostheses for handling limbs, adapted cars, written in braille, audio descriptions, audio guides or audiobooks for the blind, magnetic loops for the deaf, people that act as a guide for the blind, adapted showrooms, accessible artistic works, etc.
One form of encouragement for the disabled is the reduction of prices in the use of hobbies or hobbies or creating competitions or contests within similar areas of disability.
Organizations for the disabled stand out as the main adapted activities, compatible in our classification with hobbies, the following:
Sports: athletics, motor racing, badminton, basketball, handball, boccia, cycling, running, fencing, alpine skiing, water skiing, soccer, goalball, golf, weightlifting, horse riding, judo, kitesurfing, mountaineering, swimming, fishing, petanque, canoeing, rowing, rugby, diving, surfing, tennis, table tennis, archery, Olympic shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball, windsurfing
Cultural activities: theater, attending art shows and movies, reading, singing, playing an instrument.
Other: chess, bingo, board games, puzzles, puppets, geocaching, hiking, pilates, gymnastics, tai chi, yoga, gardening, video games, darts, travel
In addition, various hobbies have been used to aid the therapy of people with disabilities, highlighting treatment with horses, video games, yoga, or role-playing games.
Numerous public and private entities promote and help leisure- including many hobbies- in the disabled, mainly developed sports, which have multiple competitions, including the well-known Paralympic Games.
