Catherine Carty
UNESCO Chair Manager, MTU
Sport breaks stigma and misperceptions. At the Paralympics, Paris poured 125 million euros into disability access, and TV coverage surpassed all previous records.
Disability sports showcased ability, strength and determination. Children could see the athleticism of people with disabilities being celebrated. This encourages children with disabilities to get active and involved in sport, which requires opportunities, parental support and a trained workforce.
Child wellbeing rights
Beyond the podium, park and public realm, children with disabilities, like all others, need sport, physical activity and nutrition for their health and wellbeing. Avoidable barriers prevent participation and good nutrition daily. We must shape systems to embrace lifestyle interventions to promote social change and improve health outcomes for all.
Children with disabilities have the right to access sports and quality food, which can transform lives. Play, sport and physical activity are powerful vehicles for social inclusion, making them critical for children with disabilities who are at greater risk of social isolation. Children with disabilities must be consulted and involved in shaping change to better serve their needs.
Disability inclusion advocacy
Around 1.2 billion people live with disability globally. This can be physical, mental, sensory or intellectual; it may be visible or invisible. It is part of the human condition and may visit any of us. As a society, we do not provide well for people with disabilities. Building on the work of the Health and Leisure Department at Munster Technological University (MTU) in preparing graduates to work with people with disabilities, the university’s UNESCO Chair has advocated globally for the rights of people with disabilities in sports since 2013 and urges other universities to better prepare graduates for promoting disability inclusion. Universities risk perpetuating discrimination if they do not equip graduates to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities in all areas of our society.
Better health outcomes
Physical activity, nutrition and digital technology are key to improving physical and mental health and wellbeing, especially for children and young people. Through a human rights-based sustainable approach, MTU provides lifestyle programmes for people with physical, sensory, intellectual and mental health conditions in the Cork/Kerry region. These cost-effective interventions can improve health outcomes and prevent mood disorders and non-communicable diseases.
Lifestyle interventions need to be embedded into our health services at every level, with trained professionals delivering programmes and supporting healthy lifestyles from a young age. Some countries prioritise lifestyle programming and education to deliver effective results.
Upcoming conferences
In June 2025, MTU will host two parallel international conferences at their Kerry North Campus in Tralee: The International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) and the International Symposium of Physical Activity for Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. The event is under the patronage of UNESCO. With the support of sponsors, the organisers hope to offer bursaries for delegates from low-income countries and to support the costs of delegates with disabilities, who often face a greater cost burden.
Alongside the conference scientific programme and trade exhibition, David Donoghue, former Irish diplomat and co-facilitator of UN negotiations on the 2030 Agenda, will speak of the importance of sport and physical activity in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, will explore children’s experiences in Ireland in accessing their rights with the youth forum of Active Disability Ireland.
Rights for future generations
‘The Summit of the Future’, taking place this week at the New York UN headquarters, calls on countries to do more for future generations and sustainable development across all sectors. Coalition 2030 has issued a call to action for a Future Generation Commissioner in Ireland. MTU fully supports this initiative and believes future generations of children living with disabilities in Ireland should have all their rights met, including those relating to physical activity, sport and nutrition. In the future, children born in Ireland with disabilities and their families should be confident that their rights are protected, respected and fulfilled.
