Project Description
This project aims to offer an opportunity for the special needs population to be part of a cheerleading team. Through collaboration with Bullseye Athletics in Greenwood, IN, I developed a special abilities cheerleading program that had a positive impact on the athletes' quality of life, physical health, social skills, and knowledge of occupations. I was able to create a guide for OT practitioners to use in the future to develop an occupation-based special abilities cheerleading program.
Needs Assessment
- 26 percent of adults in the United States have some type of disability (CDC, 2023)
- Sports are important for this population, as they can help with stress, physical health, self-esteem, and mental health (National Ramp, 2021)
- A study found that the people who participated in adapted sports had significantly higher quality of life and life satisfaction scores compared to those who did not participate in sports (Yazicioglu et al., 2012)
- The United States All Star Federation (USASF) states that sports can teach skills such as grit, discipline, teamwork, and respect, and being a part of a sports team develops friendships, independence, confidence, mental focus, and physical fitness (USASF, n.d.)
- OT approaches to special abilities cheerleading resources do not currently exist
Literature Review
- Regular physical activity can help prevent and treat heart disease, stroke, diabetes, various types of cancer, hypertension, and obesity (WHO, 2022)
- A narrative review determined that people with neurologic disabilities who participate in sports have a higher reported self-concept, self-esteem, and life satisfaction (Sahlin & Lexell, 2015)
- CheerAbilities is a program that offers a place for athletes with disabilities to succeed while encouraging inclusion and growth in cheerleading (Varsity, 2022)
- Researchers concluded that cheerleading could significantly improve self-esteem and mental health, especially physical self-worth, depression, and sleep and eating disorders (Deng et al., 2022)
- Incorporating play into occupational therapy or sports programs increases engagement and enjoyment in the activity (O’Connor et al., 2021)
Project Outcomes
This project had a total of 6 deliverables that are outlined below.
Deliverable #1: Community cheer showcase
Deliverable #2: Certificate of completion for coaching cheerleaders with special needs
Deliverable #3: Weekly presentations and practice goals organized within a Special Abilities Cheer Guide
Deliverable #4: Data Sheet
Deliverable #5: Marketing Materials (Flyer and Webpage Design)
Deliverable #6: Certificate of completion of a basic marketing course
Future Directions
My hope for this project is that it provides a resource for gym owners, coaches, and OT practitioners to use while creating a special abilities cheerleading program of their own. I also hope to continue offering this program once a year since it was so much fun for me and the athletes found so much value in it.
Contact Information
ahkippen@gmail.com | (812) 489-0987
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023, January 5). Disability impacts all of us. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html#:~:text=Up%20to%201%20in%204,have%20some%20type%20of%20disability
Deng, C., Yu, Q., Luo, G., & Lu, S. (2022). Effects of 16 weeks of cheerleading on physical self-esteem and mental health of female college students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.925162
National Ramp. (2021, August 12). Accessibility news – adaptive sports are growing fast. Freedom Now. https://homeaccess.nationalramp.com/news/accessibility-news-adaptive-sports-are-growing-fast/
O’Connor, D., Butler, A., & Lynch, H. (2021). Partners in play: Exploring ‘playing with’ children living with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 84(11), 694–702. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022620967293
Sahlin, K. & Lexell, J. (2015). Impact of organized sports on activity, participation, and quality of life in people with neurologic disabilities. The Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation, 7(10), 1081-1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.03.019
United States All Star Federation (USASF). (n.d.) Exceptional athletes. https://www.usasf.net/exceptional-athletes
Varsity. (2022, June 30). Cheerabilities & team Texas unlock true potential for all star athletes. https://www.varsity.com/news/cheerabilities-unlocks-true-potential-for-all-star-athletes/
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022, October 5). Physical activity. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
Yazicioglu, K., Yavuz, F., Goktepe, A., & Tan, A. (2012). Influence of adapted sports on quality of life and life satisfaction in sports participants and non-sports participants with physical disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 5(4), 249-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2012.05.003