ImpactInstitute’s Post

Recognizing Our Paralympians: Striving for Equality and Excellence🇮🇳💯 Our Paralympians, like Suhas Yathiraj and Yogesh Kathuniya, remind us that achievement is about pushing boundaries. Both athletes, despite winning silver, expressed their desire for more—not out of dissatisfaction, but because they believe in their potential. They emphasize that para-athletes should be judged by the same standards as their able-bodied counterparts. Paralympics aren’t just about overcoming physical challenges; they’re about showcasing determination and talent on a global stage. Let’s support our Paralympians not with sympathy, but with the respect and recognition they deserve. Here’s to aiming for 50 medals by 2028! #Paralympics #Inclusion #Excellence #EqualRecognition

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

The remarkable achievements of this year's Paralympic athletes serve as a shining reminder that disability does not equal inability. Paralympic athletes prove that disability doesn't mean inability, but rather, remarkable ability and determination. Paralympic athletes offer valuable lessons that extend beyond sports, inspiring us to reframe our perspectives and attitudes. Here are some lessons we can learn from them: 1. Resilience and adaptability: Overcoming physical limitations and pushing through challenges demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. 2. Determination and perseverance: Paralympic athletes show us that with unwavering determination and perseverance, we can achieve greatness despite obstacles. 3. Inclusive mindset: They promote equality, challenging societal norms and stereotypes, and encouraging us to embrace diversity. 4. Focus on ability, not disability: Paralympic athletes highlight the importance of focusing on capabilities rather than limitations. 5. Hard work and dedication: Their achievements demonstrate the power of hard work, dedication, and a growth mindset. 6. Inspiring others: Paralympic athletes motivate us to reevaluate our own potential and strive for excellence. 7. Embracing uniqueness: They celebrate individuality, encouraging us to embrace our differences and find strength in our unique qualities. 8. Overcoming fear and doubt: Paralympic athletes show us that we can overcome self-doubt and fear, achieving greatness through courage and determination. 9. Power of community: The Paralympic community showcases the value of support, camaraderie, and collective empowerment. 10. Redefining success: Paralympic athletes broaden our understanding of success, highlighting that achievement comes in many forms and abilities. By embracing these lessons, we can foster a more inclusive, supportive, and empowering society for everyone. Reading my write up for the first time? My name is DEBORAH WARRIE I am a lawyer, a writer an author and a storyteller. You can also follow our company page Quorum Nominees for legal advice #ParalympicSpirit #EmpowermentThroughSport #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #AbilityNotDisability #ResilienceAndDetermination #ParalympicPower #InspirationInAction #SportForAll #BreakingBarriers #LimitlessPotential #ThursdayWisdom.

The Paralympics were a fantastic celebration and demonstration of sport, and the power of representation, as this quote from Hannah Cockroft OBE, PLY, DL (made following her win in the women’s 100m T34) encapsulates... "In the call room this morning, someone told me, ‘I watched you in 2012 and that’s why I am here.’ I really hope there are some girls at home who are doing the same because that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully, today, some new dreams have been born."   We highly recommend reading some more of the inspirational quotes from Paralympians at the 2024 Games here: https://lnkd.in/gVjK2-hv   At Origins - The Patient Focused Specialists, we believe representation is crucial - not only in sports but also in healthcare. This is why we're dedicated to ensuring that the work we do in clinical research is inclusive and provides opportunities for all voices to be represented.   For more information on how Origins can help ensure your work is inclusive and impactful, please reach out at contact@origins-patients.com   #InclusionMatters #RepresentationInResearch #DiversityInHealthcare #Paralympics #ClinicalResearch

🏅 Unveiling the Untold Stories: Paralympic Challenges Beyond the Limelight 🏅 While the Paralympic Games celebrate incredible achievements, it's essential to acknowledge that becoming a Paralympian involves more than just having a disability. Paralympians are elite athletes who excel through talent, rigorous training, and dedication. Funding, which I'll discuss in another post, also plays a crucial role in their journey. 🏋️♀️ Becoming a Paralympian: More Than a Disability One common misconception is that being disabled automatically qualifies someone for elite Paralympic competition. However, Paralympians are exceptional athletes with a combination of extraordinary talent, rigorous training, and dedication. 1️⃣ Immense Talent Paralympic athletes exhibit remarkable skill, precision, and athleticism. Their success in various sports requires a high degree of natural talent. 2️⃣ Rigorous Training Paralympians undergo extensive training regimens to perfect techniques and build strength. Their journey involves intense preparation and relentless practice. 3️⃣ Dedication and Perseverance Achieving Paralympic status demands unwavering commitment, overcoming societal, logistical, and personal hurdles. It requires extraordinary perseverance and focus. 🌟 Paralympians: Elite Athletes in Their Own Right Paralympians should be recognised for their world-class athletic abilities, not just for "overcoming" their disabilities. Their performances showcase technical prowess and competitive excellence, deserving respect as elite athletes. 📣 Challenging Ableism in Sport Reducing Paralympians to figures of inspiration based solely on their disabilities reinforces ableism. Recognising them as elite competitors can combat limiting narratives and promote a more inclusive understanding of athletic excellence. 🌍 The Bigger Picture: Advocating for All Disabled Athletes While Paralympians are exceptional, not every disabled person will become one, nor should they be expected to. Disabled individuals have diverse dreams and ambitions. Highlighting Paralympians is important, but we must also value the broader contributions of disabled people in various fields. #ThoughtProvokingThursdays #JusticeReform #SupportNotPunishment #InclusiveSociety

Celebrating the Paralympics and reflecting on inclusion!    I spent an extraordinary day at the opening of the Paralympic Games in Paris with all the para-athletes and, of course, the para-athletes supported by AXA Spain. Their determination and excellence spirit are so inspiring... I believe it helps to foster #inclusion in all areas of society, including our corporate environments!     Inclusion is progressing but there is still a long way to go. In France for instance, the unemployment rate for disabled people has fallen from 17.6% in 2017 to 12% in 2023 but the national quota of 6% of disabled workers has not been reached in our major French companies. Old biases are hard to shake! Inclusion requires not only resources, but a cultural transformation—one where we celebrate differences, harness the power of diverse perspectives, and ensure everyone has an equal seat at the table.    At AXA, we are strongly committed, both at Group and local level, to sport and inclusion, right up to the #Paralympic Games. The values embodied by these incredible para-athletes - resilience, organisation and courage - resonate deeply with our own. Together, let’s build a world where everyone, whatever their differences, can truly flourish and contribute fully to our society. #KnowYouCan #ProudToBeAXA 

As the Paralympic flame was extinguished, signaling the end of the Games in Paris, Amanda Wilkinson, CEO, took a moment to reflect on the achievements of the Games, the barriers for developing countries, and the future of inclusive sports for all. “The Paralympics provide an important time for nations to gather together to celebrate disability sport, and the incredible athletes whose skill, determination, and resilience make them the best in their fields. “It's an amazing opportunity to highlight the importance of disability sport for the progress of the communities and nations they represent. “However, for the Paralympics to fully realise its value of equality, more must be done to tackle the barrier of under-investment in less-resourced nations to take part. Not only does this mean equipping athletes with the tools they deserve to compete at the highest level, but upstream from that investing in grassroots sport, to catalyse the ambition, passion and talent of future athletes. “Athletes at the Paralympics and the Olympics represent the very small minority with the skills to become the very best sportspeople in their fields. But you shouldn’t need to be a global contender to have the chance to participate. Everyone should have the chance to take part in sport, and sport inclusion brings benefits to the whole community. “We are pleased to see new nations competing at each new Paralympics, but it would be wonderful if more could be done to level this particular playing field to see more athletes from poorer nations get a chance to compete.” This goes beyond sports—it's about ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunity they rightly deserve to reach their full potential.  It was encouraging to see the WHO launch a campaign during the Games that called for global action to break down barriers to access to assistive technology, ensuring everyone can benefit from the tools that facilitate participation and independence. For anyone who wants to get more active, take a look at #EveryBodyMoves initiative powered by Toyota, which provides a local activity finder for inclusive sports and activities that everyone can get involved with. Every Body Moves  #Paris2024 #Olympics #ParisOlympics #Sports #ParisOlympics2024 #DisabilitySport #Paralympics #Paralympian #Paralympics2024 #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityPride #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilitySupport #WheelchairSports #sportswheelchair

🌍 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

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

September marks our company's 9th Annual Global Diversity and Inclusion (GD&I) Experience Month and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games lead the way in celebrating differences. In addition to being an important occasion in the Olympic calendar and, of course, exciting to watch, the Paralympic Games also have symbolic importance. People living with disabilities are often misrepresented. The Games are an opportunity to challenge the narrative and raise awareness of the resilience and determination of people with disabilities as they push the boundaries of what’s possible in their respective sports. As the range of events grows to be more inclusive, the Paralympic Games demonstrate how sport truly is for everyone. Sport helps us all to recognize, celebrate and embrace our differences, showcasing how the unique ability of each individual strengthens society. Resilience & Determination: Let the Paralympic Games inspire you. Allow the athletes’ resilience, determination and enthusiasm for their sport carry you over the next few months and help you with your own unique challenges, whether they are related to sport or not.