In the last decade there was an enormous growth in interest in the field of sport and development. Not only the amount of sport programs has increased, but also the involvement of the academic community has grown (Van Eekeren, 2006). However interest in research focusing on sport and development programs has enlarged, studies focusing on programs for persons with disabilities remain underreported. Henley (2005) mentioned that “what is necessary now is active field research to further investigate and communicate what is working in field programs, sharing this with other practitioners and researchers, so a body of work knowledge develops”.In response to the above mentioned lack of research, APAID will investigate the effects of sport and development programs for persons with disabilities by monitoring and evaluating the KIDS WITH DISABILITIES project. (This project, focused on persons with disabilities living in the slums of Nairobi, aims to raise awareness on disability issues and to increase their physical activity level. In doing so, the project’s ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.)
The aim of the study is to better understand what does and does not work and in what circumstances by knowing why the project have or have not achieved the desired outcomes. The KIDS WITH DISABILITIES project will be monitored and evaluated by using a logic model, based on a manual of Coalter (2006). In order to collect data, a random sample out of the three groups involved in the project (persons with physical and/or mental disabilities, volunteers and community members) will be selected out of the slums of Nairobi. The evaluation will begin with the establishment of baseline data at the beginning of the project and continue with data collection at yearly intervals.
A first part of the study (using data from baseline level) will focus on the possible relationships between physical activity level and quality of life of people with disabilities. This initial research will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Boursier (University of Paris and vice-president of International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity), Prof. Skirstad (Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and President of the European Association for Sport Management) and Prof. Kahrs (Norwegian School of Sport Sciences).