The Involvement of Budapest Residents with Visual Impairments in Leisure Sports: Barriers and Facilitators

Since the political and economic changes that occurred in 1989-1990, Hungary has been in a state of transition from a socialist regime to a democratic culture. In an effort to comply with the rules of democracy, equal opportunities for people with disabilities are demanded on various platforms. However, inclusion in sports is still uncommon, and physical education (P.E.) teachers, trainers, sports scientists, etc. are not provided with in-depth education on adapted sports. The present study examines the involvement of Hungarian adults with VI (visual impairments) in leisure sports and investigates facilitators and barriers which members of the target group face. First, the educational opportunities (segregation or inclusion) provided for Hungarian children with VI are introduced. The historical and legislative backgrounds are presented in order to give a clear review of the social context. Findings of a survey on the activity levels of Hungarian adults with vision loss are introduced, which reflect the target group's willingness to get involved in leisure activities and also pinpoint factors which hinder their participation (e.g., professionals' unfamiliarity with the special needs of those with VI and adapted sports opportunities).