While overall CYLWD in Canada engage in less PA than those without disability, participation differs by disability type, with CYLWD being 26% to 52% less likely to meet PA recommendations and 27% to 64% less likely to participate in organized sport.
Key Findings
Results
Children and youth living with disabilities were substantially less likely to meet physical activity recommendations compared to those without disabilities.
CYLWD were 26% to 52% less likely to meet moderate-to-vigorous PA recommendations than those without disabilities
Disparities in meeting PA recommendations ranged from 4.2 to 14.0 percentage points compared to the total population
CYLWD achieved an average of 5 to 20 fewer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day
Children and youth with hearing disabilities were the exception, not showing lower adherence to PA recommendations
Analysis used linear and logistic regression adjusted for age group and sex
Results
Children and youth living with disabilities were substantially less likely to participate in organized sport than those without disabilities.
CYLWD were 27% to 64% less likely to participate in organized sport than those without disabilities
The greatest disparities in organized sport participation were observed among those with mobility limitations
The study examined organized sport participation among children aged 5 to 11 years (N = 16,694) and youth aged 12 to 17 years (N = 11,077)
Data were drawn from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY)
Results
Outdoor physical activity and play participation was lower among children and youth with physical disabilities and those diagnosed with autism.
Children and youth with physical disabilities showed lower likelihood of participating in outdoor non-organized PA/play
Children and youth diagnosed with autism also showed lower likelihood of participating in outdoor PA/play
In contrast, children and youth with physical disabilities were more likely to participate in outdoor non-organized PA compared to some other disability groups
Disabilities were identified using the Washington Group/UNICEF Child Functioning Module
Results
Indoor non-organized physical activity participation was lower among youth with cognitive, behavioural, or mobility-related disabilities, or a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Youth with cognitive disabilities were less likely to participate in indoor non-organized PA
Youth with behavioural disabilities were less likely to participate in indoor non-organized PA
Youth with mobility-related disabilities were less likely to participate in indoor non-organized PA
Youth with a neurodevelopmental disorder were less likely to participate in indoor non-organized PA
Notably, youth with cognitive or behavioural disabilities were more likely to participate in indoor non-organized PA compared to some other disability subgroups
Results
Physical activity participation patterns among children and youth living with disabilities varied by disability type across multiple PA domains.
The study examined six PA measures: average minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per day, meeting MVPA recommendations, organized sport, outdoor PA/play, indoor PA, and walking to school
Disabilities examined included physical, cognitive, and behavioural categories
Disparities in PA participation were observed regardless of disability type, though magnitude differed
Participation in non-organized PA varied by disability type, with physical disabilities associated with more outdoor PA and cognitive/behavioural disabilities associated with more indoor PA relative to each other
Methods
The study used national-level data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth to estimate PA participation among CYLWD.
The sample included children aged 5 to 11 years (N = 16,694) and youth aged 12 to 17 years (N = 11,077)
Disabilities were identified using the Washington Group/UNICEF Child Functioning Module, capturing physical, cognitive, and behavioural disabilities
Linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for age group and sex
This study provides national-level estimates for PA participation among CYLWD in Canada
What This Means
This research examined how much physical activity Canadian children and youth with disabilities get compared to those without disabilities, using data from a large national survey conducted in 2019. The study looked at over 27,000 children and youth between the ages of 5 and 17, and measured several types of physical activity including organized sports, outdoor play, indoor activities, and walking to school. Researchers found that children and youth with disabilities were significantly less active across nearly all measures, getting 5 to 20 fewer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day and being 26% to 64% less likely to meet physical activity recommendations or participate in organized sport depending on the type of disability.
The study also found that the type of disability matters when it comes to which physical activities are affected. For example, children with mobility limitations faced the greatest barriers to both meeting activity guidelines and participating in organized sports. Those with physical disabilities or autism were less likely to engage in outdoor play, while youth with cognitive, behavioural, or neurodevelopmental conditions were less likely to participate in indoor non-organized activities. Interestingly, children with hearing disabilities did not show lower adherence to physical activity recommendations compared to the general population.
This research suggests that one-size-fits-all approaches to promoting physical activity may not be effective for children and youth with disabilities, since their participation patterns and barriers differ depending on their specific disability. The authors highlight a need for better data collection tools that reflect the diverse realities of children and youth living with disabilities, and call for targeted policies and programs that address the specific barriers different disability groups face in accessing physical activity opportunities.
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Wang C, Betancourt M, Martin Ginis K, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Roberts K. (2026). Physical activity among children and youth in Canada living with disabilities.. Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice. https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.46.10.02