Merima Smajlhodžić-Deljo, Ana Lalović, Amra Džuho –
Verlab Research Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Medical Devices and Artificial Intelligence, Center for biomedicine and health innovationsContact: info@verlabinstitute.com
Why this topic matters to us at Verlab Institute?
At our institute, inclusion is not a symbolic commitment. It is a system we design, measure, and continuously improve. Inclusion means that every individual has a real opportunity to participate, develop, and express their full potential. We focus on this field because exclusion is still structured into everyday systems. Persons with disabilities face barriers that are physical, educational, economic, and social. These barriers do not reflect lack of motivation. They reflect lack of access. This gap is especially visible in sport, where participation rates remain significantly lower despite clear benefits.
Why we research inclusion through sport?
Sport is more than physical activity. It is a controlled environment where health, psychology, and social interaction intersect. Evidence shows consistent gains in cardiovascular health, neuromuscular coordination, and metabolic function. At the same time, sport strengthens self-efficacy, reduces anxiety, and builds social connection. For us, this makes sport a high-impact intervention point. It is adaptable. It is scalable. It creates measurable outcomes across health and social dimensions. That combination is rare and powerful.
From research to real systems: what we are building
Our work is grounded in applied research through European collaborative projects:
- We integrate structured sport activities with education for professionals. The goal is simple. Build competence so inclusion becomes standard practice, not exception. You can see more of our work at Sport for Inclusion and Empowerment (SIE) project.
- We advance parasport systems through classification models, adapted training, and digital support tools. This allows more precise engagement and better performance tracking. You can see more of our work at ParaSwInclusion project.
- We address a major public health gap. Persons with disabilities are significantly less likely to meet physical activity guidelines. This project combines professional training with direct participation programs to reduce that disparity and its long-term health risks. You can see more of our work at Stride and Glide project.
Across all projects, the approach is consistent. We connect data analytics, biomedical engineering, and field practice. We develop adaptive training protocols. We implement objective assessment tools. We evaluate outcomes in real conditions.
What makes our approach different?
We treat inclusion as a system problem. That means we act on multiple levels at once:
- We improve professional capacity
- We design inclusive programs
- We support infrastructure accessibility
- We integrate digital technologies such as wearable sensors and motion analysis
- We measure outcomes, not assumptions
This creates interventions that are not only accessible, but also effective and sustainable over time.
A call to act, not just to agree
Inclusion will not scale through good intentions. It will scale through decisions. Through design. Through accountability.
Every coach who learns adaptive methods changes a trajectory. Every institution that invests in accessible systems expands opportunity. Every dataset that captures real outcomes pushes the field forward.
This is where research meets responsibility.
If you are a practitioner, rethink how your programs are designed. If you are a policymaker, invest in systems that measure inclusion, not just promote it. If you are a researcher, move closer to application.
And if you are simply someone who believes in a fairer system, stay engaged. Ask better questions. Support evidence-based change.
Because inclusion is not something we add at the end. It is something we build from the start.
