The Impact of Wheelchair Tennis on the Lives of Youth with Disabilities and their Families

In recent years, research on the benefits of physical activity and sport for disabled youth has received scholarly attention. For example, adapted or inclusive youth sport has been put forth as a facilitator of both health-enhancing physical activity and psychosocial development for disabled youth. Disability sport can also be a tool for social change by challenging issues of isolation and inequality (Richardson et al., 2017), particularly in non-westernized cultures. However, research on the benefits of disability sports is limited to North American or western European contexts. In this article, we examined the participation of disabled young athletes, their families and coaches from the country of Latvia in the sport of wheelchair tennis. Qualitative methodology revealed three themes: (1) Making New Friends, (2) Becoming Stronger, (3) and Being Part of a Group. For the athletes, their families, and coaches, wheelchair tennis was not simply about playing the sport, but learning to overcome multiple challenges (e.g., environmental and psychological barriers, social attitudes), enriching their social experiences and improving the quality of lives.