Abstract
Inclusive practices in education ensure access, participation and learning for all students, promoting equity and respect for diversity. The aim of the study was to identify practices for including students with disabilities in international school-based physical education using a systematic review. For this purpose, the PRISMA
methodology was employed, enabling the identification of 43 articles that met the selection criteria. Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases were used, where a search was carried out with the keywords “physical education”, “disability”, “inclusion” and “special educational needs” between 2015 and 2023. A classification was conducted based on two dimensions related to inclusive practices outside and inside the physical education classroom. The identification and categorization of these inclusive practices allow for an analysis of the diverse inclusive strategies reported in the literature, highlighting the main areas of focus in recent years: emotional support, space organization, pedagogical support in physical education classes, educational projects, public policies, and initial teacher training. Future research should focus efforts on the involvement of parents and/or guardians of students with disabilities, as well as on the individual distinction of each type of disability present among students at the school level.
References
Abellán Hernández, J. (2015). Actitudes hacia la discapacidad de los futuros maestros de Educación Física. Sportis Scientific Journal of School Sport Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 1(3), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2015.1.3.1414
Abellán Hernández, J., & Hernández Martínez, A. (2015). Los juegos motores sensibilizadores y su efecto en las actitudes hacia la discapacidad mostradas por futuros maestros de Educación Física. Sportis Scientific Journal of School Sport Physical Education and Psychomotricity, 2(1), 93–106. https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2016.2.1.1443
Ackah-Jnr, F. R., & Danso, J. B. (2019). Examining the physical environment of Ghanaian inclusive schools: how accessible, suitable and appropriate is such environment for inclusive education? International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(2), 188–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1427808
Ainscow, M., & Miles, S. (2008). Making Education for All Inclusive: Where Next? Prospects: Quarterly Review of Comparative Education, 38, 15–34.
Al Salim, Z. A. (2017). Attitudes of students with and without disabilities toward physical education and their sports and activities preferences in Saudi Arabia. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
An, J., & Meaney, K. S. (2015). Inclusion practices in elementary physical education: A social-cognitive perspective. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 62(2), 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912x.2014.998176
Bertills, K., Granlund, M., Dahlström, Ö., & Augustine, L. (2018). Relationships between physical education (PE) teaching and student self-efficacy, aptitude to participate in PE and functional skills: with a special focus on students with disabilities. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(4), 387–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1441394
Canales, P., Aravena, O., Cárcamo-Oyarzún, J., Lorca, J., & Martínez-Salazar, C. (2018). Prácticas pedagógicas que favorecen u obstaculizan la inclusión educativa en el aula de educación física desde la perspectiva del alumnado y profesorado. Retos: Nuevas tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, 34, 212-217. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/59620/38603
Capio, C. M., Sit, C. H. P., Eguia, K. F., Abernethy, B., & Masters, R. S. W. (2015). Fundamental movement skills training to promote physical activity in children with and without disability: A pilot study. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 4(3), 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2014.08.001
Catellani, N., Ilyasov, D., Cherepov, E., Sevryukova, A., Selivanova, E., Kudinov, V., & Nikolov, N. (2018). Development of psychological readiness in physical education teachers for the implementation of inclusive education. Human Sport Medicine, 18(1), 125–137. https://doi.org/10.14529/hsm180111
Columna, L., Hoyos-Cuartas, L. A., Foley, J. T., Prado-Perez, J. R., Chavarro-Bermeo, D. M., Mora, A. L., Ozols-Rosales, M. A., Cid, L. Á., & Rivero, I. (2016). Latin American Physical Educators’ intention to teach individuals with disabilities. Adapted physical activity quarterly: APAQ, 33(3), 213–232. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2014-0167
Contreras, A., & Fierro, B. (2024). Formación inicial y continua de docentes de Educación Física escolar para una enseñanza inclusiva. Iberian Journal of Information Systems and Technologies, 71, 635-649. https://www.risti.xyz/issues/ristie71.pdf
Fernández Cabrera, J. M., Jiménez Jiménez, F., Navarro Adelantado, V., & Sánchez López, C. R. (2019). Cambios en el autoconcepto del alumnado con y sin discapacidad motriz a partir de una intervención docente inclusiva en Educación Física (Changes in self-concept of students with and without motor disabilities after an inclusive teaching intervention in P. Retos digital, 36(36), 138–145. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v36i36.67717
Fernández, J. M. (2019). Discapacidad Motriz e Inclusión en Educación Física. Aula de Innovación Educativa: Educación Física inclusiva, 288, 22–26.
Fierro, B., & Contreras, A. (2024). Perspectivas históricas relacionadas a la inclusión de personas en situación de discapacidad en Educación Física escolar (Historical perspectives related to the inclusion of disabilities in school Physical Education). Retos digital, 55, 317–326. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v55.103640
Fierro, B., & Treviño Villarreal, E. (2023). “¿Que dice la Política Chilena para la Integración Escolar?: Un análisis crítico desde la perspectiva de la equidad”. Revista española de educación comparada, 42, 305–317. https://doi.org/10.5944/reec.42.2023.31993
Fierro-Saldaña, B. (2024). Análisis del Currículo de Educación Física en Chile: una mirada hacia la inclusión del estudiantado (Analysis of the Physical Education Curriculum in Chile: a look towards students inclusion). Retos digital, 56, 941–948. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v56.103946
Fierro-Saldaña, B., & Treviño-Villarreal, E. (2025). Inclusion of students with disabilities in physical education: The Crossroads of systemic coherence. Physical Culture and Sport Studies and Research. https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2025-0004
Gable, A. S. (2014). Disability theorising and real-world educational practice: a framework for understanding. Disability & Society, 29(1), 86–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2013.776485
Gobbi, E., Greguol, M., & Carraro, A. (2018). Brief report: Exploring the benefits of a peer‐tutored physical education programme among high school students with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities: JARID, 31(5), 937–941. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12437
Gobierno de Chile - Servicio Nacional de la Discapacidad. (2014). Manual sobre la Ley 20.422 que establece normas sobre igualdad de oportunidades e inclusión social de personas con discapacidad. http://especial.mineduc.cl/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2016/08/201304231527430.ManualLeyN20422.pdf
González, I., & Macías, D. (2018). La formación permanente como herramienta para mejorar la intervención del maestro de educación física con alumnado con discapacidad. Retos: Nuevas tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, 33, 118-122. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/55056/35796
Grenier, M., & Miller, N. (2015). Using peers as natural supports for students with severe disabilities in general physical education. Palaestra, 29(1), 22–26. https://js.sagamorepub.com/palaestra/article/view/6381
Haegele, J. A., Hodge, S., Filho, P. J. B. G., & de Rezende, A. L. G. (2018). Brazilian physical education teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion before and after participation in a professional development workshop. European Physical Education Review, 24(1), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336x16662898
Haegele, J., Zhu, X., & Davis, S. (2018). Barriers and facilitators of physical education participation for students with disabilities: an exploratory study. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 22(2), 130–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2017.1362046
Healy, S., Colombo-Dougovito, A., Judge, J., Kwon, E., Strehli, I., & Block, M. E. (2017). A practical guide to the development of an online course in adapted physical education. Palaestra, 31(2), 48–54. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319044230_A_practical_guide_to_the_development_of_an_online_course_in_adapted_physical_education
Hernández, F. J., Labrador, V., Niort, J., Berbel, G., & Trullols, M. (2017). Respuestas del profesorado de Educación Física ante conflictos con alumnado con discapacidad intelectual y física. Retos: Nuevas tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, 31, 123-127. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/39861/32341
Hodge, S. R., Haegele, J., Gutierres Filho, P., & Rizzi Lopes, G. (2018). Brazilian physical education teachers’ beliefs about teaching students with disabilities. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 65(4), 408–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912x.2017.1408896
Inclusive education. (2019). Journal of Intellectual Disability Research: JIDR, 63(7), 759–776. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12658
Jin, J., Yun, J., & Agiovlasitis, S. (2018). Impact of enjoyment on physical activity and health among children with disabilities in schools. Disability and Health Journal, 11(1), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.04.004
Kiuppis, F. (2018). Inclusion in sport: disability and participation. Sport in Society, 21(1), 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2016.1225882
Laughlin, M. K., Murata, N. M., & McDougall, D. (2019). Effects of an adapted physical education training package on special education teacher instruction. Behavioral Interventions: Theory & Practice in Residential & Community-Based Clinical Programs, 34(1), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1653
Lautenbach, F., & Antoniewicz, F. (2018). Ambivalent implicit attitudes towards inclusion in preservice PE teachers: The need for assessing both implicit and explicit attitudes towards inclusion. Teaching and Teacher Education, 72, 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2018.01.003
Lee, H.-M. (2016). Majoring in physical education: Teaching students with disabilities. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 87(2, SI), A120–A121. https://search-proquest-com.pucdechile.idm.oclc.org/docview/1817496695?rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo
Lieberman, L., Brian, A., & Grenier, M. (2019). The Lieberman–Brian Inclusion Rating Scale for Physical Education. European Physical Education Review, 25(2), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336x17733595
Maher, A. J. (2016). Special educational needs in mainstream secondary school physical education: learning support assistants have their say. Sport, Education and Society, 21(2), 262–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2014.905464
Maher, A. J. (2017). ‘We’ve got a few who don’t go to PE’: Learning support assistant and special educational needs coordinator views on inclusion in physical education in England. European Physical Education Review, 23(2), 257–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336x16649938
Maher, A., Morley, D., Fimusanmi, J., & Ogilvie, P. (2019). The impact of a special school placement on self-perceptions of confidence and competence among prospective PE teachers. European Physical Education Review, 25(2), 474–490. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336x17746949
Majoko, T. (2019). Inclusion of children with disabilities in physical education in Zimbabwean primary schools. SAGE Open, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018820387
McKay, C., Block, M., & Park, J. Y. (2015). The impact of Paralympic School Day on student attitudes toward inclusion in physical education. Adapted physical activity quarterly: APAQ, 32(4), 331–348. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2015-0045
Ministerio de Educación de Chile. (2014). Objetivos curriculares de la educación física. https://www.curriculumnacional.cl/614/w3-propertyvalue-49399.html
Ministerio de Educación de Chile. (2009). Política de integración escolar. http://especial.mineduc.cl/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2016/09/Manual-PIE.leyOK_.web_-1.pdf
Ocete Calvo, C., Pérez Tejero, J., & Coterón López, J. (2015). Propuesta de un programa de intervención educativa para facilitar la inclusión de alumnos con discapacidad en educación física (Propose of an educative intervention program for inclusion of children with disability in general physical education). Retos digital, 27(27), 140–145. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i27.34366
OECD. (2007). Students with disabilities, difficulties, and disadvantages: Policies, statistics and indicators. OECD. http://www.oecd.org/education/school/40299703.pdf
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2004). Clasificación internacional del funcionamiento de la discapacidad y la salud. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43360/9241545445_spa.pdf?sequence=1
Organización de las Naciones Unidas. (2006). Convención sobre derechos de personas con discapacidad. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/documents/tccconvs.pdf
Östlund, D. (2015). Students with profound and multiple disabilities in education in Sweden: teaching organisation and modes of student participation. Research and practice in intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2(2), 148–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/23297018.2015.1085327
Overton, H., Wrench, A., & Garrett, R. (2017). Pedagogies for inclusion of junior primary students with disabilities in PE. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 22(4), 414–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2016.1176134
Ozer, D., & Aksoy, A. (2016). Disability sports and health; Games and activity modifications: Erasmus Intensive Program. Palaestra, 30(2), 27–31. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305278232_disability_sports_and_health_games_and_activity_modifications_erasmus_intensive_program
Petrie, K., Devcich, J., & Fitzgerald, H. (2018). Working towards inclusive physical education in a primary school: ‘some days I just don’t get it right’. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(4), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1441391
Qi, J., & Wang, L. (2018). Social interaction between students with and without disabilities in general physical education: a Chinese perspective. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(6), 575–591. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2018.1485139
Qi, J., Wang, L., & Ha, A. (2017). Perceptions of Hong Kong physical education teachers on the inclusion of students with disabilities. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 37(1), 86–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2016.1169992
Reina, R., Hutzler, Y., Iniguez-Santiago, M. C., & Moreno-Murcia, J. A. (2019). Student attitudes toward inclusion in physical education: The impact of ability beliefs, gender, and previous experiences. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly: APAQ, 36(1), 132–149. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2017-0146
Rello, C. F., Garoz, I., & Tejero, C. M. (2018). Análisis comparativo del efecto de tres programas de sensibilización hacia la discapacidad en Educación Física. Retos: Nuevas tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, 34, 258-262. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/article/view/59889/38611
Ring, M., Kristén, L., & Klingvall-Arvidsson, B. (2019). Norms and materialities in physical education and health- ‘I feel that i cannot contribute enough in sport’. Sport, Education and Society, 24(4), 349–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2017.1394837
Sit, C. H.-P., Yu, J. J., Wong, S. H.-S., Capio, C. M., & Masters, R. (2019). A school-based physical activity intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 89, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.03.004
Taliaferro, A. R., Hammond, L., & Wyant, K. (2015). Preservice physical educators’ self-efficacy beliefs toward inclusion: The impact of coursework and practicum. Adapted physical activity quarterly: APAQ, 32(1), 49–67. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2013-0112
Tanure Alves, M. L., Storch, J. A., Harnisch, G., Strapasson, A. M., Furtado, O. L. P. da C., Lieberman, L., Almeida, J. J. G. de, & Duarte, E. (2017). Physical education classes and inclusion of children with disability: Brazilian teachers’ perspectives. Movimento (ESEFID/UFRGS), 23(4), 1229. https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.66851
Treviño, E., Escribano, R., González, A., & Ortega, L. (2019). Del dicho al hecho: Creencias y prácticas inclusivas en establecimientos y aulas escolares en Santiago. Perspectiva Educacional, 58(3).
UNESCO. (1994). The UNESCO Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education. UNESCO. http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/SALAMA_E.PDF
UNESCO. (2001). Education for all: Information kit. UNESCO. http://www.unesco.org/education/gmr2008/chapter2.pdf
UNESCO. (2015). Educación física de calidad. Guía para los responsables políticos. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000231340
Vonlintel, D., Henderson, H., O’Keeffe, B., Fuller, A., Cook, E. (B.), & Durrant, L. (2017). Development and initial validation of the Peer Tutor Evaluation Instrument in adapted physical education. Palaestra, 31(1), 10–15. http://web.b.ebscohost.com.pucdechile.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=a0edc50a-fd80-446e-9506-48f0916f6f3d%40pdc-v-sessmgr04
Wang, L. (2019). Perspectives of students with special needs on inclusion in general physical education: A social-relational model of disability. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly: APAQ, 36(2), 242–263. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2018-0068
Wang, L., Qi, J., & Wang, L. (2015). Beliefs of Chinese Physical Educators on teaching students with disabilities in general physical education classes. Adapted physical activity quarterly: APAQ, 32(2), 137–155. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2014-0140
Wang, L., Wang, M., & Wen, H. (2015). Teaching practice of physical education teachers for students with special needs: An application of the theory of planned behaviour. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 62(6), 590–607. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912x.2015.1077931
Wilhelmsen, T., Sørensen, M., & Seippel, Ø. N. (2019). Motivational pathways to social and pedagogical inclusion in physical education. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly: APAQ, 36(1), 19–41. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2018-0019
Yan, T., & Deng, M. (2019). Regular education teachers’ concerns on inclusive education in China from the perspective of concerns-based adoption model. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(4), 384–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1435741

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Creative Commons Attribution License
