800 Section - Ignite Paracanoe in British Columbia

Over a quarter of Canadians identify as having a disability, yet access to adaptive sports remains limited. Parasports, such as paracanoe (adaptive canoe/kayak), may benefit youth with disabilities by enhancing their social, emotional, and physical well-being through outdoor experiences that foster autonomy and challenge. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of a paracanoe program within an existing canoe club to inform ongoing program development.


Design:

This mixed-methods study involved youth (aged 12–25) with physical disabilities who participated in a five-week introductory paracanoe program. Each participant received one-to-one coaching from trained canoe/kayak coaches. Post-program surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to assess participants’ experiences. Youth interview data were analyzed deductively using the Quality Parasport Participation Framework (QPPF) to categorize findings across six domains: Autonomy, Belongingness, Challenge, Engagement, Meaning, and Mastery. Coaches, parents, and program administrators also completed semi-structured interviews regarding their roles in supporting or delivering the program. These data were analyzed using content analysis.


Results:

Youth survey findings indicated generally high ratings across all QPPF domains (scores reported as mean/min/max): Autonomy (6.6/6/7), Belongingness (6.4/5/7), Challenge (6.4/5/7), Mastery (5.9/4/7), Meaning (6.0/4/7), and Engagement (6.1/5/7). During interviews, youth reported that the program supported their autonomy (e.g., independence on the dock and in the boat). Parents, coaches, and program administrators identified the need for additional coach training and more opportunities for youth socialization during the program. All participants identified facility accessibility as an area requiring improvement.


Conclusion:

These results reflect the first year of a three-year study evaluating the implementation of a paracanoe program within an existing canoe club. The insights gained will inform future iterations of the program with the aim of developing a sustainable program model.