THE OBSERVATORY for Sport in Scotland (OSS) and University of West of Scotland (UWS) is delighted to announce that disability athlete and coach Gemma Lumsdaine has been appointed as our new Masters in Research student to work on our disability and sport project.
The project in conjunction with Scottish Disability Sport, and supported by the Peter Harrison Foundation and a range of partners, including Sportscotland, Disability Equality Scotland, Deaf Action and Special Olympics UK, will follow the disability research review conducted by Professors Richard Davison and Gayle McPherson of the University of West of Scotland. The review identified key knowledge gaps in the understanding of disability and sport in Scotland, from a lack of consistency around disability terms and identification to lack of understanding of barriers, motivations and impact of sport on people with physical, learning and sensory disabilities.
Gemma recently qualified from Abertay University with a first class honours degree in sports coaching and management, and after a rigorous application process was selected to take on the first OSS Masters in Research post in conjunction with UWS.
A wheelchair rugby and basketball player and coach, Gemma is a sports educator with Sportscotland and Scottish Disability Sport and a sports coordinator with the Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club. She is also a member of the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board formed by the Scottish Government.
Thought Piece from Charlie Raeburn for Reform Scotland