Jessica Smith OAM PLY’s Post

🧑🦽➡️ 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

Paralympics ‘Thought of the Day’ - Day 6 It’s amazing to see plenty of ‘first time’ and accessibility best practices, but the reality is, the everyday infrastructure is still not built with accessibility in mind… - when Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson had difficulty getting off the train when the schedule changed slightly… - not all traffic lights have sound system to help those with visual impairment - lack of closed captioning or BSL provided for broadcasting of all, if not key, live events (such as the recent Leader debate during the election…) And many more… We need Inclusive design in everyday practices! Because when you ‘Solve for one, Extend to many’. For example, Closed captioning / subtles are being used far more than helping people with hearing impairments watch TV or follow a presentation. This also helps those whose are not a native speaker of that language, audiences to understand someone with a heavy accent, following along on TVs placed in loud environments like airports and public places or allowing someone to watch TV while their partner sleeps… Michael Vermeersch we need your expertise!!! https://lnkd.in/gCew2SEk https://lnkd.in/gAkqcgC2

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.

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

“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

Like many disabled people I have a difficult relationship with Paralympics. I love watching sport and will tune in a lot over the next few weeks. But many disabled people won’t because they don’t like sport or can’t tolerate the inane able gazed guff that accompanies a lot of the coverage. I am preparing for the 4 yearly onslaught of sporting and non sporting media and public figures endlessly parroting on about focusing on the ability rather than disability. And often competitors go along with the fawning and awkwardness because they want to be the best and often are involved in sport because of the disabling society they live in. We will see disabled presenters and hopefully they can focus on sport and inspiration for what it really means. The competitors in Paralympics are elite athletes. They are still disabled and will still be disabled after they compete no matter what medal they win or record they break. They are very good at what they do. Not every disabled person can be a paralympian in the same way not every 21 year old able bodied woman can run 400m in under 50 seconds like Rhasidat Adeleke. Society disables us and participating in an elite sporting competition does not make the disabling society disappear. Many Irish paralympians are not properly funded for their sport never mind the additional costs of their disability in that sport. They will return to a country where their rights to services and equality is less than their able bodied peers. There are thousands on waiting lists of services and supports. There’s no cost of disability payment and many Paralympians struggle to get access to housing, employment, aids and appliances despite their success in sport. Much like getting a job (which the state continually focusses on like it presents some sort of miraculous cure), competing for Ireland doesn’t make their disability disappear overnight. So when politicians and media wax on about seeing the ‘ability rather than the disability’ or talk incessantly about inspiration or what people have ‘overcome’ I and others ask you to think again. Think about * the waiting lists for everything, * the lack of housing and many disabled homeless, * the disabled people living in congregated settings, * many still living with and being cared for by parents in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, * those in prison for a lack of proper social care supports, * those abused and coercively controlled because of their disability, * those who have to give 24 hours notice to get a intercity train. Paralympics, Special Olympics and Sports for All programmes are excellent and much needed- those who participate benefit hugely and for the elite sports people they are the pinnacle of activities they are all very good at. But participants are disabled and that’s ok. Because #DisabilityIsNotADirtyWord - and running a long jump when you have partial paralysis or limited sight won’t make it go away. Enjoy the sport and Come on Ireland!

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.

Headlines this morning report new World Record holder in the Women's 50M Freestyle is being bullied for "faking" her disability. As many of you know disability symptoms can fluctuate - one day an individual may use a walker or crutches and the next they may need to use a wheelchair. So, I wanted to dig deeper into what is required by International Paralympic Committee to verify someone's disability and the below is what I found. 🏊♀️ Paralympians must share medical documentation - this includes medical history, diagnosis and relevant test results. 🏊♀️ Physical Assessments - Classifiers test muscle power, range of movement and limb deficiency. (similar tests are given for athletes with vision or intellectual disabilities) 🏊♀️ Sport Criteria - Each sport has its own minimum impairment criteria that all athletes must meet to be eligible to compete. 🏊♀️ Interviews and observations - athletes may be interviewed and observed during training to ensure accuracy of classification. It appears this is a pretty rigorous process. Let's lean toward believing someone when they tell us they are disabled, especially if that disability has been well documented. Christie Raleigh Crossley | #DisabilityInclusion #DisabledAndCapable #ParalympicGames

Do you know how elite Paralympians make it to the games? For that matter, anyone with a disability who is headed on a simple flight or vacation? This article dropped into my inbox and I didn't get around to reading it until now and sharing in the spirit of allyship, accessibility and adventure. With the 2024 Paralympic Games wrapping up in Paris, a new documentary titled "Accessibility for All" highlights the challenges elite athletes with disabilities face in simply getting to the games. Covers off some good information about the United States, Canada and the UK. Of special note - 1. New regulations in the U.S. will potentially provide disabled passengers with several new rights. “It’s not a moment too soon to make travel safer and more dignified for people with disabilities,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg 2. The recent trip from the UK to France by Isaac Harvey MBE and the team at Wheels and Wheelchairs (not in the article but a huge effort) 3. The Canadian Paralympic Committee / Canadian women’s basketball team and how they've had their wheelchairs damaged in the past. 4. A UK woman named Sophie Morgan takes direct action to hold airlines to account for the shocking mistreatment of disabled flyers Read here: https://lnkd.in/gGMFGZ4Y Great article by Maayan Ziv of AccessNow / Photo by Photo by Real Sports Photos/Shutterstock #Accessibility #Paralympics #Paralypians #TravellerswithDisabilities #DisabilityRights #Travel #TravelPlans #TravelPlanning #Transportation #TravelPlansforBusyPeople #Allyship #TravelMarketing #TravelLeisure

Greetings! The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, running from August 28 to September 8, 2024, have kicked off with a vibrant Opening Ceremony at Place de la Concorde, marking the first time France has hosted the event. This year's Paralympics feature 22 sports with 4,400 athletes, all of which will be broadcast live, a first in Paralympic history. Approximately 5,288 Paris volunteers received disability awareness training, with 260 focusing on accessibility issues. The Games are also emphasizing inclusivity, with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and UNESCO hosting discussions on 27-28 August 2024 about how Para sports can advance the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities, focusing on five key themes: 1. Fostering more inclusive societies through Para sport and physical activity 2. Accessible infrastructure and equipment 3. Holders of cultural rights at the forefront of inclusivity and diversity 4. Inclusive quality physical education and play 5. Breaking down barriers through data-driven sport policies and programs. According to the World Bank, one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability. These individuals often face worse socioeconomic outcomes, including lower education, poorer health, less employment, and higher poverty. Global awareness of disability-inclusive development is growing, driven by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by 185 countries, which advocates for the full integration of people with disabilities and emphasizes the role of international development in protecting their rights. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reinforces this by asserting that disability should not limit access to development or human rights, with the SDGs framework including seven targets specifically for persons with disabilities and six additional targets for vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities. To highlight the UN Secretary-General's message for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: “The Paralympic Games are anchored in the values of fairness, equality, opportunity, and respect—and demonstrate the immense power of sport to unite people across cultures. The Games also shine a spotlight on the possibilities and potential of more than one billion persons with disabilities worldwide.” In the next post, we would like to introduce the programme’s five key themes mentioned above. for more details: https://lnkd.in/gaWZvvMR https://lnkd.in/g_bnCiQE https://lnkd.in/gzKnkYwX https://lnkd.in/gsHXQJiE