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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.

Access and inclusion shouldn’t stop at the Paralympics. Think of how many opportunities you can create and lives you can support to thrive by creating access and inclusion in your sector, space and community. The Paralympics, sport, gave me so much confidence in myself and in my body. It changed something in me as a teenager, my mindset, implanting a belief that I could do more than I thought I would be able to. I’ve seen so much of this in the past two weeks with the Paralympians in Paris. So many talking about how sport has shown them what is possible. But the Paralympics also shows non disabled people what is possible if you actually have the drive to create an inclusive and accessible culture in a sector, in a space, in a community. What can you do to give disabled people that same feeling sport gave me? [Image: A teenage girl wearing an Australian tracksuit, has a Paralympic bronze medal around her knack and is holding flowers. Behind her is a pool and an official and beside her is a competitor.] #Paralympics #Sport #Leadership #DEI #Inclusion #InclusionMatters #Positivity #WomenEmpowerment #Disability

Will you be watching the Paralympics? What is your reason for watching? Channel 4 recently commissioned research that showed nearly 60%of people said they watch the Paralympic Games to “see athletes overcoming their disabilities” whereas just 37% say they watch the Paralympics for “exciting sporting competition." Nana is a disability advocate which is driven by his personal experiences and his passion for making a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. He believes that the Paralympics provide an opportunity for disabled athletes to demonstrate that they can compete on the same level as able-bodied individuals. Despite the societal tendency to view Paralympians as "superhuman," the event highlights that athletes with disabilities are equally capable. Having a disability doesn't make someone superhuman—it simply means we compete in sports with different challenges. Channel 4's Paris 2024 Paralympic Games campaign challenges patronising attitudes using it's "Considering What?" theme which is a good move away from the previous "Superhumans" theme. We'll be watching the Paralympics with the same vigour that we watched the Olympics as there are always many lessons to be learnt from the world of sport that can be transferred into organisations. #Paralympics #Inclusion #Disability

Unbelievable! As Paris gears up for the Paralympics, are we overlooking a significant accessibility issue on its Metro system? Despite initial promises, only one of the 16 Metro lines is fully wheelchair-accessible. Influencer #ArthurBaucheron finds it "shameful" that he cannot navigate his own city via the Metro. What's your opinion? While substantial investments have been made in the bus system, the lack of lasting changes to the Metro raises serious questions about true inclusivity. Shouldn't a city hosting the Paralympics be more accessible? Read the full article below to explore this critical issue further. #Paralympics #Accessibility #Inclusion #Paris2024

"3 Things Audiences Can Learn From The Paralympic Games" by Andrew Pulrang for Forbes This year’s Paralympics will include 22 events – including a range of adapted and originally designed sports as broad and diverse as the Olympic Games themselves. And arguably more so than the Olympic games, the Paralympics are touted as being about more than the events themselves. From the Paralympic website: "The Paralympic Games are more than just a sporting event – they offer a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on sport and disability, inspire individuals, bring about social change, and promote inclusive professional and sports opportunities for people with disabilities." #DisabilityRights #Paralympics #WeAreBillionStrong #AXSChat #Equity #SDGs #DisabilityInclusion https://lnkd.in/e9ATZeMs

"Never give up on your dreams, regardless of whether you have one leg or one arm. Believe that everything is possible. After 22 years of my career today I’m here at the Olympics." Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024 is showing that these are a Games Wide Open by telling the stories about disability inclusion taking place at the Olympics. There have been two Paralympic athletes competing in the Olympics. Both in International Table Tennis Federation - ITTF, both in the women’s team competition, and both with a limb impairment. Speaking to Associated Press, Bruna Alexandre, who became the seventeenth athlete in history to compete in both Games and the first Brazilian, said this: “I think this is a lesson about inclusion, both in Brazil and around the world. This can motivate other people with disabilities. And it can be inspiring for everyone on the Olympic side as well. When they watch me play, they see that everything is possible. It’s a win-win situation, and it can open a lot of doors.” Some great insight into Bruna’s journey, and also that of Australia's Melissa Tapper here https://bit.ly/4fuQxvL and here https://bit.ly/4dvrmHo Both will be back in Paris for the Paralympics hoping to create more history. #inclusion #accessibility #disability #Paris2024 #Olympics #Paralympics #GamesWideOpen

🌍 Paralympics Paris 2024: A Landmark for Inclusion and Accessibility! As we celebrate the highlights of the Paralympic Games and reflect on the Closing Ceremony, it’s time to look forward. The roadmap for inclusive legislation and the advancement of persons with disabilities is crucial—not just in the UK or Paris but across the globe. The Paralympics is more than just a sporting event; it’s a symbol of what’s possible when society commits to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Let’s call on world leaders, businesses, and citizens to take decisive action. Investing in sports and inclusion isn’t just about fairness—it’s about building a better world for everyone. The journey starts now, as we move from Paris 2024 towards Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. Let's create dynamic change that resonates across all levels of society, ensuring that persons with disabilities have representation and opportunities on a national and international scale. Key Facts: #GNYPWD #AXSChat - 15% of the world's population lives with a disability—over 1 billion people. - 1 in 5 people will experience disability in their lifetime. - Investment in accessible sports and infrastructure benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities. Let's work together to build a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #Paralympics #Paris2024 #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveLegislation #DiversityAndEquity #GlobalAccessibility #RoadmapToChange #LosAngeles2028 #SportForAll #InclusiveRepresentation #InvestInInclusion Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities International Paralympic Committee LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games Keely Cat-Wells Puneet Singh Singhal Emmanuel Macron Keir Starmer The White House 10 Downing Street BBC News Channel 4 #C4News Aquayemi-Claude Garnett Akinsanya #glblctzn #OneActivists Andrew Parsons

“With 100 days to go until the Paris Games, the IPC’s Andrew Parsons says it is vital for disability rights they are the best ever.” “We’re talking about the 4,400 athletes living in the village, but we also want to be able to influence positively the lives of 1.2bn people with disability,” Parsons says. “We have the feeling that persons with disability have been forgotten in some of these international debates. If you see some other movements, and we applaud them all, [those related to] gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation have moved a lot, while the persons with disability have been left behind. “The pandemic has shown us, if you see the number of persons with disability and the kind of health assistance that was provided to them even in very developed countries, the policies that were designed to be very inclusive were not,” says Parsons, who does not have a disability. “Sometimes you don’t see persons with disability in those top discussions [and this is] fundamental to design the policies that will lead to real inclusion.” “I believe we have the best platform to help change that because, if you think on sport, politics, culture, whatever, the Paralympic Games is the only event of global impact that puts persons with disabilities centre stage. That’s why we understand the responsibility we have. “In September, the United Nations will host its summit for the future to look again at its sustainability goals. In this critical moment wWe have the Paralympic Games as a platform one month prior to it. It’s a very good opportunity that we don’t want to waste.” Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024 International Paralympic Committee #Paris2024 #Paralympics

Looking at the tall achievements of the Paralympians, there's just one thing your conscience will ask you - "So what's your explanation for not working towards your goal?" I think Paralympians deserve more credit that what they are getting right now. International media turns a blind eye as always and does selective reportage. But then, the Paralympians embody human spirit of the higher order and I think we should celebrate them, at least on social media. In fact, speaking about Paralympics is the best way a corporate can showcase its commitment towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy. But sadly, I don't see many corporates celebrating this event. Diversity for most companies is just gender diversity and nothing beyond. Let's follow the Paralympics and keep posting the success stories, irrespective of the countries they represent. And this is how, we make a better world! "The Joy of Living is in the Spirit of the Will to Win and not in the Win" #Paralympics2024 #Sportsmen #Corporateculture #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #Willtowin #Humanspirit #Countries Photo Courtesy: WeCapable.com

We saw someone, somewhere share this powerful graphic today showcasing the evolution of the Games. It is inspiring to see the strides made towards greater equity and inclusion. Sport has become a platform for showcasing not just athletic prowess, but also the power of diversity. This year, the focus on equity is more prominent than ever. With new events and categories designed to ensure fair competition and representation, the Games are paving the way for a more inclusive future. The introduction of mixed-gender events and the increased participation of Paralympic athletes are just a few examples of how sport is evolving to better reflect the world we live in. At The WattleNest we are committed to fostering an environment where equity and inclusion are at the forefront of our mission. #inclusion #diversity #genderbalance #balance #equity #opportunities #progess #evolution #sport #olympics #paralympics #paris2024 #sport #connect