New research from disability charity Sense reveals that the health and wellbeing of disabled people in the UK is being severely neglected, with 1.3 million individuals with complex disabilities not getting enough physical activity to maintain their health. The survey, which included over 1,000 adults with complex disabilities, found that 81% are doing less than the NHS-recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, with more than a third exercising for less than 30 minutes.

Nearly half of those surveyed expressed a desire to be more active but cited barriers such as inaccessible venues, transportation, and a lack of trained staff. Additionally, over a quarter reported not receiving enough information about inclusive sporting opportunities in their local area.

Professor Greg Whyte from Liverpool John Moore’s University criticised the lack of support, describing the situation as “mass disability neglect.” He called for simple changes, like better staff training and improved access, to help disabled people get the exercise they need to reduce the risk of long-term health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Sense is aiming to tackle these issues with its Sense Active programme, which aims to support 5,000 people with complex disabilities and train over 1,000 coaches by 2027. The initiative, funded by a £2.2 million grant, seeks to break down barriers and redesign sports to ensure meaningful participation for all.