title: [The value of sports for handicapped patients. Achieving social integration--building bridges by paralympic sports].
abstract: It is important to reflect back on the enormous changes that have taken place in society over the past century that have affected the quality of life of disabled persons and societal attitudes towards disability. Although great progress has been made, these people remain marginalized and disadvantaged, and despite all the efforts of volunteers, professionals, and governments, we cannot categorically state that they are fully socially integrated. The term disability continues to carry an enormous stigma, and therefore it is important to examine the concept of social integration and the issues around it as they affect disabled persons and the role of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) movement in achieving this end.
authors.affiliation: Rick Hansen Centre, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steadward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D010243:Paralysis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011287:Prejudice; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013177:Sports; D014910:Wheelchairs