Able Athletics Research Initiative 2026

The real benefit of adaptive
sports access — in your words

Able Athletics is conducting an independent economic research study on the social and financial return that inclusive adaptive sports programs generate for athletes, families, and the broader community. Your responses will directly inform a Social Return on Investment analysis to be published by Able Athletics this summer.

All responses are anonymous and confidential. No personally identifying information will be collected or published. Results will be reported only in aggregate form. Participation is entirely voluntary and you may stop at any time.

Takes 10–12 minutes
Anonymous & confidential
16 questions
Made possible by Katy Textor Farmer Grant  ·  2026 Summer Service Grant Award, Deerfield Academy CSGC
Who this survey is for: This survey is intended for athletes and families who have participated in Able Athletics programming. If your family has taken part in an Able Athletics program, we would love to hear from you.
A
About You
Q1. I am participating in this survey as a…*
Select the role that best describes your relationship to Able Athletics.
👨‍👩‍👧 Parent / Family / Caregiver
🏅 Athlete
📋 Coach / Director
🤝 Volunteer
✏️ Other
Q2. How long has your family / athlete been involved with Able Athletics?*
B
Finding a Program — Search Costs
Q3. Before finding Able Athletics, how long did your family search for a suitable adaptive sports program?*
Q3b. During that search period, approximately how much did your family spend on programs, evaluations, or consultations that ultimately didn't work out?*
Include registration fees, trial sessions, travel to visit programs, or specialist consultations. Enter $0 if none.
$
Q4. What was the biggest obstacle to finding a program before Able Athletics?*
Select all that apply.
C
Financial Burden
Q5. Approximately how much did your family spend annually on adaptive sports or related activities before joining Able Athletics vs. what you spend now?*
Include program fees, equipment, transportation, and special gear. Estimates are fine.
$
$
Q6. How has the cost of adaptive sports equipment for your family changed as a result of participation in Able Athletics?*
D
Broader Impact on Your Family
Q7. Since joining Able Athletics, has your family's spending on therapeutic or medical interventions for your child changed?*
e.g. physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, or other support services.
Q7b. Approximately how much has your annual spending on therapy or support services changed since joining Able Athletics?*
This helps us quantify the net financial effect on families. Please enter the approximate annual dollar amount. Estimates are fine.
$
Q8. Has a parent or caregiver in your household changed their work schedule or reduced work hours to manage adaptive sports logistics?*
This helps us understand the full economic picture — including unpaid time — that families invest.
Q8b. Before joining Able Athletics, approximately how many hours per week were affected by adaptive sports scheduling?*
Include research time, phone calls, travel, and coordination.
Q9. Since joining Able Athletics, what changes have you observed in your child?*
Select all that apply.
E
Funding, Policy & the Bigger Picture
Q10. On a scale of 1–5, how adequately do you feel government and corporate funders currently support adaptive youth sports programs in your community?*
1 = Severely underfunded  ·  5 = Well-funded
Severely underfundedWell-funded
Q11. If corporate sponsors invested more meaningfully in adaptive youth sports, what would matter most to your family?*
Select all that apply.
F
Caregiver Wellbeing
Q13. Before finding Able Athletics, how would you describe the stress your family experienced as a result of your child having limited access to adaptive sports programming?*
1 = No stress  ·  5 = Significant stress that affected daily family life
No stressSignificant stress
Q12. In your own words — what has been the most meaningful benefit of Able Athletics for your child and your family?
Optional, but your words may be quoted anonymously in the published research paper.
Limited — First 30 Respondents
Earn a $10 Amazon gift card
for completing this survey
As a thank you for your time, the first 30 families to complete this survey will receive a $10 Amazon gift card sent directly to the email address you provide below. Gift cards will be distributed within 2 weeks of survey close.
Prefer to stay anonymous? Simply leave the fields above blank and submit without your contact information. Your survey responses are equally valuable — you just won't be eligible for the gift card. No personally identifying information is ever shared or published.
Consent & data use. I understand that my responses are anonymous and will be used solely for the Able Athletics research paper "The Return on Inclusion" (2026). No personally identifying information will be collected or published. Contact details provided for gift card purposes will be used solely to distribute the incentive and will not be shared, stored beyond that purpose, or published in any form. By submitting, I consent to my anonymized responses being included in the study's dataset, which Able Athletics will release publicly upon paper publication.
Something went wrong. Please try again — or email your responses directly to Able Athletics.
Your response is saved the moment you click submit. Thank you for contributing to this research.

Thank you.

This survey is designed specifically for the parents, families, caregivers, and athletes of Able Athletics, since it captures the financial and social impact of participation on families. Your role in our community is deeply valued.

If you are a parent, family member, caregiver, or athlete, please reload the page and select that role to complete the survey.

Thank you.

Your response has been recorded. Every answer directly shapes the research — and ultimately, the policy arguments that Able Athletics will bring to lawmakers, funders, and corporate sponsors on behalf of families like yours.

If you provided your email for the gift card, you will hear from us within two weeks of survey close. The paper "The Return on Inclusion" will be published on the Able Athletics website in summer 2026.