Special Olympics National Games 2026 panel discusses inclusion for children with disabilities

The event, themed "Sport, disability, social inclusion," brought together sports and health stakeholders to promote sports for people with disabilities and foster their social participation. Discussions, attended by sports executives, doctors, and traditional chiefs, focused on sport's role in supporting and developing individuals with disabilities, and enhancing self-confidence in children with disabilities. Participants emphasized the need to better educate medical staff on caring for children with disabilities and highlighted the importance of tailored approaches, especially in school and social settings.

Professor Koua Asseman, National Mental Health Program Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, stated that inclusion is a societal issue, not just for people with disabilities. He differentiated between "small h" disabilities physical, intellectual, psychological, neurosensory and "big H" disabilities, which refer to invisible structural barriers. He advocated for a truly inclusive approach over a merely integrative one, urging a redesign of sports access and internal reorganization for inclusive sports.

Professor Asseman also suggested that a child's disability could be a strength when viewed from a recovery perspective, and families can develop expertise from their exper