Activity Alliance’s Post

Welcome to another Thursday Thought! 🌟 Today, let's delve into the Paralympics and its impact on the disability movement. The Paralympics showcase the incredible athleticism of disabled athletes, highlighting their capabilities and challenging societal perceptions of disability. This visibility can inspire pride and drive positive change in how disabled people are viewed and treated. The focus on elite athletes can sometimes overshadow the everyday experiences of most disabled people. The portrayal of Paralympians as "superheroes" can inadvertently set unrealistic expectations and perpetuate the notion that only extraordinary achievements are valued. Moreover, the Paralympics often receive less media coverage and funding compared to the Olympics, reflecting ongoing inequalities. What are your thoughts? #ThursdayThoughts #Paralympics #DisabilityAwareness #Inclusion #DisabilityMovement #Realism #VisibilityMatters #InclusiveSports #Equality #Community #EverydayHeroes ID: A single finger pointing upwards towards the text "THURSDAY THOUGHT..." followed by "The Paralympic Games" against a plain blue background.

🧑🦽➡️ Redefining Inspiration: The Evolving Narrative Of Paralympic Athletes 🧑🦽 The narrative surrounding Paralympic athletes has long been dominated by the idea of overcoming adversity and being inspirational — a notion that many within the disability community, including athletes themselves, are now challenging. This article, written by student journalist Harry Smith, delves into the evolving conversation around the portrayal of disabled athletes, highlighting the tension between being seen as "inspirational" and the desire for a more nuanced representation. As the 2024 Paralympic Games unfold, this debate is more relevant than ever, raising critical questions about how we view disability, achievement, and the true meaning of success in sports. Read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/ecnhdVfA #Inspirational #InspirationalPorn #RedefiningInspiration #ImNotYouInspiration #Paralympians #ParalympicAthletes #DisabledAthletes #DisabilitySports

Are you watching the Paralympic Games? Are you inspired? We should all be inspired by the extraordinary athleticism of our Para-athletes. However we need to also be mindful that we aren't using images or footage of disabled people to make ourselves feel better about our own lives. When we look at images of disabled people and objectify them, it is known as "Inspiration Porn", a term coined by remarkable disability advocate, Stella Young. It happens when non disabled people look at disabled people and think or say 'well at least my life isn't that bad' or 'if they can do it with no legs then I can definitely do it'. These ideas and statements signify the comparison between disabled and non disabled people and reiterate this idea that disability is a bad thing, and disabled people lead mediocre lives. I'm here to tell you that my disability is not bad. It is a beatiful part of my existence. When you look at me, by all means be inspired by my achievements, but don't be inspired by the fact I can achieve day to day tasks like mopping my floors. That is not inspiring. Simply living with disability is not inspiring or remarkable. Living with disability is part of the human existence. So let's get back to marveling at the elite athletes currently competing at the Paralympic Games! International Paralympic Committee #inspirationporn #disabilityawareness #disabledisnotbad #imnotyourinspiration In this video I was interviewed by Lauren Orrell for Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia, this is an edited version of the full episode also featuring Madeleine Stewart, comedian and producer & fellow Australian Paralympian Carlie Beattie

FUN FACT: The Paralympic Games began back in the 1948 London Olympic Games, when there was a competition organised for wheelchair athletes named the Stoke Mandeville Games. There were 16 injured servicemen and women who took part in archery competitions. Eventually, this competition evolved into the Paralympic Games, which first took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960. This was a milestone event, and over 400 athletes from 23 countries took part. Katie Kelly, who has been an invaluable member of the Achieve Australia Board since April 2023, will be competing in the upcoming Paralympics. Read her full story at: https://lnkd.in/gxDWKHiY #IHA #inclusivehousingaustralia #specialistdisabilityhousing #Paralympics #SpecialistDisabilityAccommodation #disability #inclusion #accessibility #SDA #disabilityinclusion #disabilities #disabilityhousing #disabilitysupport #disabilitylife #housing #disabled #socialimpact #disabilityhome #disabilityservices #home #accommodation #disabilitycommunity #disabilityawareness #disabilitycare #advocacy #disabilityadvocacy #awareness #support #health #specialneeds

Fabulous story about disability inclusion and the difficulty or impossibility of one setting to fit all. As you read this, pls also consider athletes with an intellectual disability who are locked out of the Paralympics so gave set up their own event. So what’s the answer ? The answer is lots of settings and choices and ongoing evolution to keep pushing inclusion along and simultaneously respecting the human right of people to gather with their tribe in any settings they want. This story also shows the problem with the label “segregated”. Not everything segregated is bad -we all do it. A feeling of “belonging” is what’s key to inclusion and any setting that generates that is on the right track.

I defy anyone not to be inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Great job Paris, it was awesome in so many ways, closing the gender gap of athletes in the Paralympics, Channel 4 coverage was brilliant show casing many disabled presenters and all the participants were so inspiring. Let's hope the momentum of disability sport continues and it's profile is not just raised again in four years. While its recognised the percentage of disabled people participating in sport and physical activity is still below that of non-disabled people, what are the figures for disabled people working in sport, so my question is; do we know how many coaches, technical and support staff were involved in either the Olympics or Paralympics, that had a disability. While we hope that the sports people's achievements will inspire the next generation of Olympians and Paralympians, where are the role models working in sport, coaching at a high level, involved in the technical side of sport, not just performance but participation. We saw a diverse group of people involved in the volunteering at both events, how hard is it to move them from volunteering into other roles within sport and physical activity. While many disabled people will never become or actually aspire to be the next Hannah Cockcroft or Jonny Peacock, we need to continue the work and indeed do more to ensure there are truly inclusive and quality opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity but also be mindful that it should include an inclusive and diverse workforce. #activityalliance #paralympicsgb #ukcoaching #inclusivesport #inclusivecoaching #disabilitysport #disabilitymatters

Well Channel 4 has done it again - resetting the bar in #authenticrepresentation and digging into the harmful tropes that keep parasport (and disability in general) from achieving parity with the Olympics. I cannot speak highly enough of the team at Channel 4 and their efforts to mainstream disability in all of their programming. This is an example to follow for any company that is truly invested in disability inclusion - there is no summit of this mountain, no end of the road. No 100% scores and no perfection. Disability inclusion in business is, like any other go-to-market strategy, an exercise in humility and constant progress. Brands such as Channel 4 who are able to recognise the improvements they can make and act upon them - and own that imperfection - should be celebrated. Accountability and transparency cultivate trust and recognition within the #disabilitycommunity. #disabilityinclusion the Valuable 500

Channel 4 highlights how the conversation around disabilities have changed https://lnkd.in/eeJev4Vf

So far in 2024...   1. Leading law firm fails to provide reasonable accommodations for a colleague who has depression and long covid. 2. Large retailer discriminates against a blind Paralympian by asking her to leave the store with her guide dog. 3. Construction sales company fails to provide accommodations to a staff member who had a brain tumour and hearing loss. 4. National bus company ‘publicly humiliates a passenger’ by refusing to let him board with his guide dog.   According to Eoin O'Neill director of legal services for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland “Last year we as a commission found that 48% of all enquiries coming to our discrimination advice line related to #disability discrimination and a very large percentage of those related to the lack of reasonable adjustments in the workforce,"   In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland we are seeing a significant increase in claims of disability discrimination. In the Republic, these claims come under both the Equal Status Acts as well as the Employment Equality Acts. Whether it’s service provision or employment equality the vast majority of claims of disability discrimination in Ireland relate to a lack of provision of reasonable accommodations.   Why is this? We believe it's because managers and business owners simply are not aware of their obligations to provide reasonable accommodations.   The reality is that disabled colleagues, jobseekers and service users aren’t more litigious that those without disabilities. What they are is a diverse group of people who are increasingly highlighting their right to equality. During our disability awareness training programmes we call this ‘the rising tide of rights recognition’.     Discrimination in Ireland rarely is intentional or premeditated.   But that’s not to say it doesn’t happen every day.   So, if you are a Team Lead, a Manager, HR Professional or business owner, what can you do to be more inclusive?   1. Learn about the importance of Reasonable Accommodation 2. Have a clear Reasonable Accommodation Process 3. Have a Reasonable Accommodation Policy which is available to all colleagues (not just HR & management)   4. Train managers and HR teams in disability awareness and reasonable accommodation.   Your staff will benefit. Your managers will benefit. Your customers will benefit.   And you’ll be much less likely to be a headline in the Irish Independent...   Ability Focus is the only organisation in Ireland who deliver Reasonable Accommodation Training and provide reasonable accommodation consultancy services. Our programmes are increasingly being completed by government departments, state bodies, professional services firms, retailers and multinationals. To find out more about our programmes get in touch on (01) 699 1150 or email info@bilityfocus.ie Alternatively contact Stephen Kelly here on LinkedIn

The question addresses both motivation and timeline, raising the question of how long individuals with disabilities will be compelled to advocate for their respect and dignity. With inherent human qualities identical to ours, it is vital to acknowledge them as individuals first, before recognizing their disabilities. LOGOS Transformation believes in the capabilities and introduces a sustainable model for dignified livelihoods. Dr Annie Theodore Abhishek Gier Aman Ratnasamy Jaya Chakravarti Charles J Rajiv Samuel Mani https://lnkd.in/gTn82Fa5