DISABILITY SPORT RESEARCH INITIATIVE

Researh Fellows

Eli Wolff

Dr. Mary Hums

Dr. Ted Fay

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT :

Critical Change Factors Model:
Understanding the Integration Process of Sport Opportunities for Athletes with Disabilities into National Governing Bodies and the United States Olympic Committee

Disability Sport Symposium

Presented by Dr. Ted Fay, Dr. Mary Hums, and Eli Wolff

Date: September 2000

Full participation and equal opportunity in sport has historically not been available to a variety of identity groups often based on race, gender and/or disability. Many studies have described the fate of people of color in sport and women in sport, but very few have examined a similar relationship with respect to athletes with disabilities.

This presentation will demonstrate the application of two new theoretical frameworks that were developed based on critical, distributive justice, and open systems theories.

A nine criteria schematic for integration established by Wolff (2000) will be used as a means for defining integration. A ten factor model (Critical Change Factors Model - CCFM) developed by Fay (1999) will be then be utilized in order to interpret and analyze the integration process of athletes with disabilities into several national sport governing bodies in the United States.

Each of the ten factors will be presented and discussed in detail including providing relevant case examples. Basic descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysis techniques were used to present relevant case studies.

The conceptual models were designed to allow for the comparative analysis of recommendations across identity groups.

The models provide key insights and findings in the complexities of organizational change related to identity group integration including the distribution of limited resources.

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