Jidel Judo is aware that people with a disability are under represented in sport.(National survery of Disability and Sport 200). Yet out of approximately 175 Jidel members around 30 members have a disability. This is very close to a ration of 1:5/6. As our membership swells to the 250 mark, Jidel Judo intend to maintain this ration leading the way for disability Judo in West Lothian and Scotland.

Judo can be experienced by wheelchair users, people with learning disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome or people with hearing, speach or visually impaired as wel as people with epilepsy. Jidel Judo believe the whole spetrum of  people with a disability should be allowed to try the sport and particiapate within the sport of Judo. Over 50 % of our disabled members work with our non-disabled members. Some of our classes are run in partnership with orgainsations like the Lothian Alutisc Society every Thursday night at Kirkliston L. C. Although even then some of the players from that class have participated in an Jidel Judo Mix and Matches.

The majority of our  members with a disability are encourged to take part in the ESSN www.wix.com/essnjudo/ESSN Judo group for Judo players in the East of Scotland with a disability, one of the head coaches is our own Jo Imrie as well as the coach from Kyu - Shin - Kai Judo in Edinburgh Janice Graham. Two of our top cadets also help out as assistant coaches with one of them recieving an award The Young Quality Scot Award for helping at these sessions. This pathway has lead to the selection of 4 Jidel  members witha disability being selected by Lothian and Boarders Team to compete in the Special Olympic Games in Leciester 2009. Jo has also been selected to coach the squad for the Lothian and Borders Team. as well as Janice.

Although its good that Jidel Judo can offer this pathway and we are slowly chipping away at the Paralympic World Class Pathway, Participation for people with disabilities will always be at the top of the agenda with regards to Judo for people with disablity. Although this appears to be more of a statement than a develpment plan, we hope by putting this statement on our website it will encourage more  people with a disability to participate within the sport of Judo itself.