Adaptive Sports Associations Around the World and How to Find One
Updated: 2 days ago
Adaptive sports associations are the organisations that turn "I'd like to try a sport" into an actual session, with the right equipment, a coach who knows the adaptations and a club that expects you. Every country organises them a little differently, but the same four types of organisation turn up almost everywhere, from Australia and the United States to Brazil and Japan. If you're new to the idea, start with our guide to what adaptive sports are.
Key Takeaways
Four layers: Most countries have a National Paralympic Committee, a national disability sport body, impairment-specific organisations and sport-specific federations, and each does a different job.
The Paralympic network is global: The International Paralympic Committee had 185 National Paralympic Committees among its 211 member organisations as of 1 January 2026.
Umbrella bodies are the fastest way in: Groups such as Disability Sports Australia, Move United and Activity Alliance exist to point people towards local programs.
You don't need elite ambitions: Most associations run come-and-try days, social competitions and junior programs alongside their pathways to the Paralympics.
Local clubs do the coaching: National bodies set direction and run pathways, but your first session will almost always be with a local club or program.
Table of Contents
What Adaptive Sports Associations Do
An adaptive sports association connects people with disability to sport and keeps that sport running. Depending on its role, it might train coaches, lend sports wheelchairs and other equipment, run competitions, manage athlete classification or lobby governments for funding and accessible facilities.
At the elite end, the national associations select and support the athletes who go on to compete at the Paralympic Games. At the community end, the same networks run the come-and-try days, school programs and social leagues where most people start. For a sport-by-sport picture of what's on offer, see our guides to wheelchair basketball, boccia and para swimming.
The Four Types of Organisation
National Paralympic Committees (NPCs): Every country that competes at the Paralympics has one. NPCs select and prepare national teams and are members of the International Paralympic Committee, which was founded on 22 September 1989. Some, such as Germany's DBS and Norway's combined Olympic and Paralympic committee, also run community disability sport.
National disability sport bodies: These umbrella organisations focus on participation across many sports. Disability Sports Australia, Move United in the US and Activity Alliance in England are examples. Move United reports more than 257 member organisations across 45 states.
Impairment-specific organisations: These serve people with a particular impairment, for example blind and low-vision athletes, Deaf athletes, people with cerebral palsy or people with an intellectual disability. In England, Activity Alliance works with seven National Disability Sports Organisations, including British Blind Sport, Cerebral Palsy Sport, LimbPower, UK Deaf Sport and WheelPower.
Sport-specific federations: These govern one sport, such as wheelchair basketball or wheelchair rugby, and run its leagues, rules and pathways. Many mainstream national sporting organisations now run the para version of their sport as well.
How to Find the Right One for You
Start with the national disability sport body. Its job is matching people to programs, so it is usually the quickest first call. Tell them what you'd like to try and what support you use day to day.
Search by location. Move United lists its member programs by location, and Disability Sports Australia helps people find sport across Australia. In New Zealand, the Halberg Foundation works through a regional network of Parafeds for people with physical disabilities.
Go straight to the sport if you already know it. If you know you want to play wheelchair rugby or goalball, the national federation for that sport will list its clubs.
Ask about equipment before you buy anything. Come-and-try days and beginner programs almost always provide sports wheelchairs, frames and adapted gear.
Adaptive Sports Associations by Country
Most countries have more bodies than we can list here, and the IPC's member directory covers every National Paralympic Committee.
Australia
Paralympics Australia: paralympic.org.au, the National Paralympic Committee.
Disability Sports Australia: sports.org.au, the national body for sport participation by people with disability.
Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD): asapd.org, the alliance of Australia's national disability sport organisations.
Disability Sport & Recreation: dsr.org.au, Victoria's peak body for disability sport and recreation.
United States
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: teamusa.com, the National Paralympic Committee.
Move United: moveunitedsport.org, the national network of community adaptive sports programs.
National Wheelchair Basketball Association: nwba.org, the national governing body for wheelchair basketball.
Achilles International: achillesinternational.org, running and walking programs for athletes with disabilities.
United Kingdom
ParalympicsGB: paralympics.org.uk, the National Paralympic Committee.
Activity Alliance: activityalliance.org.uk, the national charity for disabled people in sport and activity.
British Wheelchair Basketball: britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk, the national governing body for wheelchair basketball.
Canada
Canadian Paralympic Committee: paralympic.ca, the National Paralympic Committee.
Wheelchair Basketball Canada: wheelchairbasketball.ca, the national governing body for wheelchair basketball.
Wheelchair Rugby Canada: wheelchairrugby.ca, the national governing body for wheelchair rugby.
New Zealand and Ireland
Paralympics New Zealand: paralympics.org.nz, the National Paralympic Committee.
Halberg Foundation: halberg.co.nz, sport and recreation for New Zealanders with physical disabilities.
Paralympics Ireland: paralympics.ie, the National Paralympic Committee.
Active Disability Ireland: activedisability.ie, formerly Cara, a Sport Ireland funded body for disability inclusion in sport and physical activity.
Europe
Denmark: Parasport Danmark.
Sweden: Parasport Sverige.
Norway: Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports.
Finland: Finnish Paralympic Committee.
Iceland: Icelandic Sports Association for the Disabled (Íþróttasamband fatlaðra).
Germany: Deutscher Behindertensportverband (DBS), Germany's disability sport association and National Paralympic Committee.
Austria: Austrian Paralympic Committee.
Switzerland: Swiss Paralympic.
Spain: Spanish Paralympic Committee (Comité Paralímpico Español).
South America, Africa and Asia
If an organisation is missing or its details have changed, email support@uniquelysport.com and we'll update the list.
Final Thoughts
Working in community recreation, I've seen how much of the hard part is the first contact. Someone has decided they'd like to try a sport, and then they're faced with a dozen organisations and no idea which one to ring. The national disability sport body is nearly always the right first call, because its whole purpose is to get you to the right club. Pick the country, make one call or send one email, and let them do the matching.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is an adaptive sports association?
A: An organisation that provides or supports sport for people with disability. It might run local programs, govern a single para sport, serve people with a particular impairment or select national teams for the Paralympics.
Q: What is a National Paralympic Committee?
A: The organisation that represents a country in the Paralympic movement and selects its Paralympic team. According to the International Paralympic Committee, there were 185 National Paralympic Committees as of 1 January 2026.
Q: How do I find an adaptive sports program near me?
A: Contact your national disability sport body, such as Disability Sports Australia, Move United in the US or Activity Alliance in England. In the US, Move United also lists its member programs by location. If you already know the sport you want, contact that sport's national federation.
Q: Do I need to want to compete at the Paralympics to join?
A: No. Most associations run social, recreational and junior programs alongside their competitive pathways, and many people play for fitness and friendship rather than selection.
Q: Do I need my own equipment?
A: Usually not at first. Come-and-try days and beginner programs generally provide sports wheelchairs, frames and other adapted equipment.
Q: How can I suggest an organisation for this list?
A: Email support@uniquelysport.com with the organisation's name, country and official website, and we'll check it and add it.
