Reflecting on Disability In Sports

    Looking back on this semester, more specifically this class, I realize I have expanded my knowledge on a topic I had thought I was already knowledgeable about. When thinking about disability in sports a few months ago, I could've told you about the certain stereotyping and models that shape how we view disabled people. Things like inspiration porn, and other damaging ways of interacting with the disabled community, even if it came from a “good place”. How being ignorant– as good intentioned as it may be, is not bliss for everyone. 

    Although it may seem unimportant to some people who are able-bodied to learn about the history, the models of health, and the evolution of adaptive sporting, I would say that the abled-bodied audience is the one who needs this class most. Disabled people may benefit from learning about others who share their struggles and overcome them, but abled-bodied people make up more of the population, and directly affect legislation, funding, and social attitudes that are taught. This is partly due to stigmas surrounding disabled people in positions of power, but education is the first step to inclusivity. 

    This class hasnt changed my original mindset on disability in sports– I have always believed that disabled people should be included and encouraged to participate in sport just like “normal” people are. When you see someone who is able-bodied and “weak” or “unfit”, more often than not they will still be encouraged to continue because others can see that they could reach their goals. This is partly because we can see ourselves in others, and building a skill takes time and dedication. But the attitude towards disabled people is very different. This is why having proper representation and accessibility to adaptive equipment is so important. Having proper equipment allows for the action to be possible, and proper representation allows for the disabled person to see that they too, can build that skill. 

    Sport in general being a team driven activity is important to break down barriers between different types of people, to unite them together for one common cause. I will continue to promote disabled sports by being vocal about it! By encouraging people I know to become involved in watching the Paralympics, by advocating where I can to improve accessibility, and by supporting people in power who will include others who don't fit into social norms. Disabled people should not be seen as only their disability. They are well-rounded people, with unique experiences, and can add immense value and knowledge to our communities. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inspiration Porn: Nobody's Getting Off

Image
     My personal experiences with disabilities are limited. Nobody in my immediate circle deals with any obvious physical disabilities, or any noticeable mental disabilities. The only experiences I have had have been through observation of people in spaces that we share, such as school. A more recent observation of mine was watching a girl who was in a wheelchair navigate the narrow opening of the bus stop in front of campus center, and watching the process of the shuttles wheelchair lift in use. A few things I thought about while watching this was how cold the metal on her chair must be (it was 14 degrees outside), and how early she must have to get her day started to account for the extra ten minutes it would take to get her on and off the bus, let alone travel time in the bus, and to class. I thought about how annoying it would be to have a class in a building just across the stairs near the shuttle stop, but having to work your way around the iced and salted campus, s...
Read more

Prosthetics in Sports: Fair or Unfair?

Image
       Adaptive technology in sports is a fascinating topic, but it is also a topic that raises many questions about fairness, accessibility, and how we define fair competition. On one hand, it’s incredible from a scientific and medical standpoint to see how technology like running blades or specialized equipment can level the playing field for athletes with disabilities, allowing them to compete at the highest levels. It’s inspiring to watch athletes push the boundaries of what’s possible and challenge traditional ideas of physical limitations. And it also serves to show other disabled athletes just what they can be capable of with the right aids. On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder about the broader implications, especially for athletes from disadvantaged nations who might not have access to the same resources. Because of this, the conversation moves from abled vs disabled, to privileged vs the unprivileged.       The cost of adaptive tec...
Read more

Media Coverage On the Paralympics

Image
       There are a few things that I think could be done to increase Paralympic media coverage and all other disabled sports combined. First, I think that for more media coverage to be made, there must be more investment into media that covers disabled sports. Not only this, but encouragement should also be made toward larger networks and platforms to stream the Paralympics or Paralympic advertising. Ads are also a great way to bring the Paralympic games to people's attention, although you must be aware how these commercials frame the athletes. While watching the Paralympic commercials for this week's material, I found that they all stood out to me as showcasing the importance of the ability and the humanness of the athletes rather than focusing on the disability of the athlete.       I find that this type of media coverage for disabled people could further serve to address the issues of how people with disabilities are often portrayed in lights t...
Read more