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Last updated: November 2022
Last full page review: August 2022

If you’re looking for a fresh challenge or interest, there may be something that appeals in this range of accessible options. Most of the organisations listed are national ones, who should be able to tell you if they have activities local to you. It goes without saying that you should also have access to whatever’s generally on offer in your local community. SMA UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK are always ready to support you if you experience any barriers to access.


Watch "Unleashing the Potential of Sport" from our Living with SMA podcast, featuring three adults who have SMA – Cath, Luis and Jack – sharing their personal stories and insights, and discussing the many ways in which sport can help us achieve our goals, overcome obstacles, and live our best lives:

Recorded: February 2023
November 2023: A member of our Families’ WhatsApp Group recommended looking at the Everybodymoves.org.uk website. This is a fresh campaign to connect disabled people with more opportunities to get active than ever before. You can register to see what’s on.

  • Disability Arts Online – led by disabled people to advance disability arts and culture.
  • Living Made Easy – click on Leisure and Play at the top for a menu that leads you to equipment for use with a range of arts and craft activities and related accessories for securing and positioning equipment.

Boccia England – a Paralympic precision ball sport related to bowls.

Paddle-Ability Providers offer courses and services for disabled paddlers. You can contact any clubs near you to tell them you’re interested in getting out on the water and find out if the club can offer any suitable opportunities.

A CEA Card (Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card) makes cinema trips can be much cheaper with a . This works nationally entitling you to one free ticket for a person accompanying you. To apply, you need to be receiving a Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The card currently costs £6.00 a year.

If you’re finding it’s not so easy to play, you may need some adaptations, for example a ‘light touch’ mouse.

See also: Assistive Technology on this page.

Several charitable organisations can provide information and advice about specialist computers and gaming equipment:

  • AbilityNet – advice and training on computer technology for disabled people
  • Everyone Can –  information and support on all aspects of computing for disabled people
  • Special Effect – adapted gaming controls

Wheels for All – for disabled adults, children and young people and those with differing needs. There are 50 centres equipped with specially adapted cycles and trained leaders. Families are welcome to be involved.

Para Dance UK – a charity and the national governing body for Para Dance Sport in the UK. Their aim is to develop and promote dance as a sport and an inclusive leisure activity across the country.

British Disabled Angling Association – information on accessible fishing. 

Aerobility  offer disabled people the opportunity to fly an plane, as long as you’re certified medically as fit to fly.

Disability Football – information about footballing opportunities for disabled

Grassroots Disability Football – information about footballing opportunities for disabled people.

Level Playing Field – offers support, information and advice on a range of topics around disabled spectators access and this is offered to spectators, Clubs, Disabled Supporter Association’s, NGOs and other interested parties.

Wheelchair Football Association (WFA) – the governing body for Powerchair Football in England provides information on Powerchair Football and how to get involved.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) – horses and ponies provide therapy and fun all over the UK.

Thrive – trained horticultural therapists work with plants and people to improve an individual’s physical and psychological health, communication and thinking skills.

Venues and music festivals where bands play live vary in how accessible they are. If there’s a concert or festival you’re interested in, as well as checking out their website, it’s usually worth ringing and asking specific questions about the access you’ll need.

Many festivals have accessible viewing platforms and offer a free ticket for a PA; some of the bigger ones even have a Mobiloo – a Changing Places Facility (a large accessible bathroom with a hoist, adult-size changing bed and shower) on wheels. If it’s a camping festival, the facilities can vary hugely but if you decide camping isn’t doable, you can stay at nearby hotels or only purchase a day ticket. Whatever you do, make sure you prepare for the mud and the rain! It’s probably fair to say you’ll need to do a good bit of research and planning to get the most out of the experience but don’t let this stop you.

Access Adventures – adaptive programmes, giving access to sport and outdoor adventures. They host camps, offering the opportunity to try waterskiing, wakeboarding, alpine skiing, downhill biking, road biking, kayaking, canoeing, kiting, archery and shooting. They’re popular and have a selection process.

Avon Tyrrell – inclusive weekends as well as other opportunities at their fully accessible centre in the New Forest National Park.

Bendrigg Trust – a range of day activities, inclusive  weekends for families and other opportunities at their activity centre in Cumbria.

Calvert Trust – inclusive courses at centres in Exmoor, Kielder and the Lake District.

The Disabled Photographers’ Society – run by and for disabled photographers. They have a broad knowledge of various ways to make photography accessible.

Disabled Ramblers – organises rambles for people with mobility difficulties.

Jubilee Sailing Trust – take both able-bodied and disabled people to sea

Sailability – the Royal Yatching Association’s national programme, enabling disabled people to try sailing and take part regularly. Sailing is open to anyone, no matter what age or disability. The network of approved Sailability sites have boats and facilities to cater for everyone.

Disability Snowsport UK – a disability ski and snowboard charity providing information on how you can get involved.

Ski2Freedom – help people to find the most suitable adaptive or assisted ski lesson, guide or sit-ski equipment, ideal ski resort and most appropriate place to stay.

Active8 is a youth disability charity in Cornwall which aims to empower and motivate young people, aged 14-30 years old, who have a physical disability. They run a whole range of day trips and residential weekends throughout the year, from arts and crafts to sports and activities, spa weekends to zoo visits!

To find out about getting involved in disability sport, contact one of the following organisations:

Disability Sport Northern Ireland – runs a range of events, participation programmes, training courses and services.

Disability Sport Wales – have details of disability sport coaches throughout Wales and a community database where you can search for your nearest club by sport and disability.

Activity Alliance – provide inclusion training for sports coaches, information on finding the right sport, clubs and examples of good practice.

Scottish Disability Sport – promote the development of sport in Scotland for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability. It also has links to disability sailing in Scotland.

WheelPower – organise fun, introductory and competitive events for disabled children and adults. They list sports and where you can find your nearest centre to play them. They also run a number of events, including youth sport camps.

Disability Shooting Great Britian – opportunity for disabled people to practise target shooting at Stoke Mandeville. There are also a number of regional Hub Clubs, but available facilities and levels of coaching vary. See their website for more information about these, or about the possibility of target shooting at Stoke Mandeville.

Tennis Foundation – information about accessible tennis.

British Disabled Waterski and Wakeboard Association – offer trying out activities with family and friends for all ages.