Able Athletics Research Initiative 2026

The real cost of adaptive
sports access — in your words

This survey is part of an independent research study on the economic barriers facing families of youth with disabilities in accessing organized sports. Your responses will inform a policy paper published by Able Athletics this summer.

All responses are anonymous.

The study is led by Rowan Dias, Impact Analyst & Co-Founder at Able Athletics.

Takes 10–12 minutes
Anonymous & confidential
16 questions
A
About You
Q1. I am participating in this survey as a…*
Select the role that best describes your relationship to Able Athletics.
👨‍👩‍👧 Family / Parent
🏅 Athlete
📋 Coach / Director
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. Did the cost of adaptive sports equipment ever prevent your child from participating in a program?*
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 decreased since joining Able Athletics?*
This helps us quantify the financial relief Able Athletics provides to families. 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. In your observation, what happens to children with disabilities in your community who don't have access to an adaptive sports program?*
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 and accessible
Severely underfundedWell-funded
Q11. If corporate sponsors invested more meaningfully in adaptive youth sports, what would matter most to your family?*
Select up to two.
F
Caregiver Wellbeing
Q13. Before finding Able Athletics, how would you describe the overall stress burden on your family related to your child's lack of access to appropriate programming?*
1 = No meaningful stress  ·  5 = Significant ongoing stress affecting daily life and family wellbeing
No meaningful stressSignificant ongoing stress
Q12. In your own words — what is the one thing most people don't understand about the real cost of accessing adaptive sports for a child with a disability?
Optional, but your words may be quoted anonymously in the published research paper.
Consent & data use. I understand that my responses are anonymous and will be used solely for the Able Athletics research paper "Priced Out of Play" (2026). No personally identifying information will be collected or published. By submitting, I consent to my anonymized responses being included in the study's dataset, which Able Athletics will release publicly upon paper publication.
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Your response is saved the moment you click submit. Thank you for contributing to this research.

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.

The paper "Priced Out of Play" will be published on the Able Athletics website in summer 2026.