What I Have Learned and How My Viewpoints Changed

    Over the course of the past 15 weeks, I have obtained a plethora of knowledge in all sorts of academic subjects. This semester alone, I took on a course load of 21 credits in physics, health informatics, teamwork and collaboration, lifespan and development, and of course, disability and sports. At the beginning of the semester, I walked into each of my classes with a basic idea of what would be covered. However, I was unaware of just how much information I would walk away with, especially in this class. My knowledge on disability and sports was limited back in January, but I can confidently say now, that that is no longer the truth.

    Each week, this course was clearly laid out and detailed as to what we would be covering. Week one provided us with an introduction to disability issues, diving right into the concepts of “inspiration porn,” just how common disabilities can be, and the impacts disability has on us all. The second week was all about the history of disabled sports, and honestly, one of my favorite topics we covered. We looked back into the origins of the Paralympic Games, how they got their start post World War II, and how they have progressed throughout the years. The next few weeks introduced and explored the Paralympic movement and other disabled sport organizations, as well as the way in which the media covers and depicts these events. Luckily, the Paralympic Games were held during the seventh and eighth weeks of the semester, allowing us to see disability and sports in action. It was extremely interesting to see the modifications made to certain events, like wheelchair basketball, as well as ones that are unique to the Games, such as handball. Week 10 provided further insight into disability and the body, specifically discussing the 3 main categories of disability: physical impairment, visual impairment, and intellectual impairment. Week 11 discussed the benefits of sports. It explored the physical and mental benefits of movement, and even the ways in which activity can be increased for those with a disability by means of inclusion, support, education, and adaptive equipment. Another one of my favorite topics covered in class came about in week 12. This week in particular was all about para sport classification. It is easily one of the most important aspects of para sports as it promotes inclusivity and fair sport by organizing athletes into classes by their type of disability and its impact. The last few weeks covered a variety of topics, but all equally important and impactful. Week 13 described opportunities and organizations beyond the Paralympic Games, including the Special Olympics, Deaflympics, IBSA, and a variety of camps. To wrap up the semester, we had the opportunity to explore current issues surrounding disability and sport, as well as its future. This covered under-representation in the media and the challenges posed by certain nations in terms of concerns, barriers, and influences. The outlook on the future discusses ways in which society can fight these issues, and how they can continue to grow by difficult conversations, movements such as We the 15, and greater representation.

With all that this class has covered, it has undoubtedly changed my mindset towards the value of sports for individuals with disability. I have always had great respect for these athletes, but this course has only deepened it. It opened my eyes to the fact that these competing individuals are not disabled athletes, but rather athletes with a disability. Their impairments do not define them or their athletic capabilities. This also leads me to say that my mindset about disability and the impact of society has shifted as well. It was brought to my attention just how under-represented and celebrated para sports are. Yes, the Paralympic Games are televised, but there are so many other opportunities for these athletes to be showcased, and only a fraction of the population may be aware of this. However, those that are familiar with para sports may view them as a charity case or pity party, which could not be further from the truth. In trying to dissuade the public from viewing para sports in this light, there are things that I can do to promote disabled sports. I can easily share news about games and athletes on my personal social media accounts, attend local para sport events, and start a conversation. Getting people to start talking and thinking about disability and sports is one the best and simplest things I can do. It allows me to open others' eyes to an entirely new world, answer any questions they may have, and get them excited about all kinds of sports and athletes they may not already be familiar with.