rock climbing - basic

Question
Hi nicholas, i am a student in australia doing an assignment on rock climbing and i need to know the age group of people that do rock climbing (walls)? weather more males or females attend the sport? if people with mental or physical disabilities can participate in rock wall climbing?  and if rock climbing benefits the climbers health?  If you could help me with these questions i would really appreciate it.  If you supply me with the answers to these questions i would also need to supply the teacher of my class with your details.  Thanks alot, i look forward to your reply.  From stacey.

Answer
In my opinion, anyone can climb as long as they are physically able.  Having said that, from my experience, the average climber is a male between the ages of 16 and 35.  I would say that of the climbers that I've seen about 10% were female.  

I think that a person with a disability can climb depending on their disability and whether or not their willing to work arround it.  I've seen people with mental disibilities climb because it's a physical activity and it is not as limiting as a mental activity would be.  Also, I've heard of people who are parapolegic climbing walls in Yosemite by using alternative techniques and equipment to traditional climbing.  

Climbing very much benefits a person's health.  Primarilly because it's a full body activity.  A climber must use their arms and legs.  It also help work out the respitory and circulitory systems because climbing can be quite strenuous.  Because climbing is so physically demanding, I think that many climbers also watch their diet a bit more closely that a regular person.

I'm not sure what you mean by "details", but I'm 25 years old, male, I live near Chicago, Illinois, and have been climbing for about 8 years now.  If there is anything else you would like to know, or if you would like me to elaborate, please let me know and please pardon the spelling, I tend to rely heavily on spellcheck.

Nick