Journal CME, April 2024: Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review-Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review

Pdf Summary

Athletes with intellectual disabilities are at a heightened risk of interpersonal violence in sports due to communication challenges and social vulnerabilities. Despite this risk, there is a lack of literature and global guidelines on safeguarding strategies specifically tailored to this population. The narrative review aimed to synthesize existing literature on interpersonal violence in these athletes and propose evidence-informed safeguarding protocols. The study highlighted the increased risk faced by disabled athletes and emphasized the need for tailored training and strategies to recognize and respond to abuse suspicions. The study also discussed the benefits of sports participation for individuals with intellectual disabilities and the importance of implementing safeguarding measures to ensure a safe sporting environment. <br /><br />The review identified risk factors for abuse in these athletes, including power imbalances, communication deficits, and dependency on caregivers, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Various forms of abuse, such as physical, sexual, emotional, and bullying, were reported across different levels of competition, underscoring the pervasive nature of interpersonal violence in this population. The study proposed an evidence-informed safeguarding framework based on the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's guidelines, focusing on policy development, response systems, education, risk minimization, behavioral guidelines, staff training, and institutional partnerships.<br /><br />The study also emphasized the importance of monitoring and evaluating safeguarding strategies to measure their effectiveness in mitigating risks and ensuring athlete safety. Despite limitations such as a small number of studies and a lack of differentiation between disability types, the review provides valuable insights and recommendations to enhance the protection of athletes with intellectual disabilities. In conclusion, there is a critical need for further research and the implementation of targeted safeguarding measures to address the unique risks faced by athletes with intellectual disabilities in sports.

Asset Caption

Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review

Keywords

Athletes with intellectual disabilities

Interpersonal violence in sports

Safeguarding strategies

Communication challenges

Social vulnerabilities

Abuse suspicions

Risk factors for abuse

Types of abuse

Safeguarding framework

Monitoring and evaluation