Presentation Abstract

Gender, Access, and Participation in Physical Activity for Individuals Who Use a Wheelchair and Are En-Wheeled

The aim of this talk is to focus on the intersection of gender, access, and participation in relation to physical activity for individuals who use a wheelchair and are en-wheeled.

Evidence-based insights from the published research literature are drawn on. In line with disability studies, and recent advances in medical research and health psychology, recent research that used co-production and integrated knowledge translation processes is also harnessed. The combined research highlights how access and participation is influenced in positive and negative ways by gender. Points focused on include the superhuman discourse, feeling landscapes and belonging, peers, health professionals, health messages, care givers and giving, the pragmatic body, the material body, time, and ableism and disablism.

About Dr. Smith

Brett Smith is a Professor of Disability and Physical Activity. He is also the Director of Research of the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University, United Kingdom (UK). His extensively funded research is underpinned by work from psychology, sociology, epidemiology, public health, and critical disability studies. Working with organizations like Disability Rights UK, his research is also often co-produced and community-based. Dr. Smith was the Chair of the Disability and Physical Activity Expert Working Group for the 2019 UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) PAGs, and an author of the report. He is also an appointed Core Member of the new CMO Physical Activity Expert Committee for Communications, which is tasked with examining health messages and how to implement the PAGs.

Dr. Smith did not disclose any conflicts of interest for this workshop.