Purpose and Perceived Benefits for the Inclusion of Disability Sport Topics in the Introduction to Sport Management Course

Abstract

Inclusion of disability sport content in the sport management curriculum ensures students are educated and adequately trained with the practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding in the complexity of sport and disability sport management to be successful in this multi-billion-dollar sport business industry. Inclusion of disability sport topics, however, are not universal across sport management programs owing in part to its lack of inclusion in textbooks and sport management research journals Pitts & Shapiro, in press). The moral or ethical decisions for its inclusion by faculty remain unknown. Such an understanding can assist in further developing sport for and including individuals with disabilities as an important professional knowledge base in sport management programs. The purpose of this study was to understand why faculty choose to introduce disability sport topics in the introduction to sport management course and their perceptions of the benefits of doing so. A total of 59 faculty (n=31 males, n=28 females) from institutions of higher education across the United States completed an online survey. Using a general inductive approach, written comments were analyzed and eight central themes were identified (inclusion/diversity, challenge social norms, awareness, legal issues, breadth of the field, resources/ textbook, career opportunities, and miscellaneous). Results are discussed in relation to the themes with referent comments attributed to its respective theme providing an understanding of the perceived role disability sport plays in the introductory sport management course. Future research directions also are addressed.