Sports Practice in Ordinary Environments and Social Integration of Young-Intellectual-Mild-Frailty Disabled Person

Abstract

The goal of this study is to show that the young intellectual disabled persons, enter easily in a social integration process when they practice a sport, better than when they do not practice. To evaluate this social integration, we adjust some elements that are essential or vital to this process. Three groups are formed. First, a group of non-sporting intellectual disabled persons, second a group of young intellectual disabled accompanied by young non-disabled sportsmen. From two questionnaires in Likert scale, five variables reflecting the essential elements of social integration are measured in pre-test and post-test on the three groups. We confirm that the autonomy, the pleasure of the effort, the competitiveness and the recognition are vital factors in social integration. Practicing sport is a strong support that helps young intellectual disabled in their social integration; thus it comprises the missing footbridge between institutional environment and the environment that are to integrate in.