A Social Report for Ireland Volume II - the NESC Website

people with disabilities 293Healthy Behaviour – Physical ActivityThe second indicator on this component is physical exercise. Figure 9.36 shows that38 per cent of people with disabilities (all people with a disability or long-standinghealth problem) take part in physical exercise, compared to 67 per cent of thenon disabled population. 211, 212 There is little variation by gender. The main reasonsgiven by people with disabilities for non participation are their disability and age.For those people with disabilities who do participate their main motivation isimproving their health (CSO, 2007k).Figure 9.36 Proportion of People with Disabilities Participating inPhysical Activities, 2006%80706067656950403038383820100All Men WomenDisabledNon-disabledSource CSO, 2007k (QNHS Q3, 2006 Sport and Physical Exercise).SummaryHealth is a fundamental element of well-being. Using an EU measure, the proportionof the Irish population aged 15 and over who are hampered in their daily livingactivities is comparatively low at less than 5 per cent. Using more up-to-date Irishdata, one quarter of the population aged 16 and over has a chronic illness or healthproblem. For most disability types, more than half of people with a disability reportan illness associated with their disability, from one third of those with a hearingdisability to three quarters of those with a breathing disability.In relation to supports for people with disabilities, about half of people withdisabilities use some kind of aid or service, ranging from two in five for people withremembering and concentrating disabilities to 90 per cent of those with emotional,psychological and mental health disabilities. About one third of people reported that211. Disability here is defined as a disability or long standing (6 months) health problem, including: blindness, deafness or a severevision or hearing impairment; a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbingstairs, reaching, lifting or carrying; a learning or intellectual disability, a psychological or emotional condition; other, includingchronic illness.212. The NDA (TNS-mrbi, 2004) survey also asked respondents about engaging in physical exercise one or more times per week andfound that 62 per cent of people with disabilities were likely to take part in exercise to this level compared to 84 per cent of thenon-disabled population.