Perceptions Of Disability And Their Impact Upon

Famous athletes with disabilities

Discuss About The Perceptions Of Disability Their Impact Upon.

As the saying goes, disability is not inability; it is thus firmly acceptable that disabled persons can not only play any game but also at any level including the elite level. This has been proven by a good number of famous athletes who are disabled in one way or another such as;

Oscar Pistorius- is a South African Olympic runner with imputed legs and has set several world records in Paralympics.

 Jim Abbott -lacks a right hand but still has achieved a gold medal Summer Olympics back in 1988.

Natalie du Toit- an amputee who participated in summer Olympics thus becoming the third amputee to ever participating in the game to the end. The list is long. This has been thanks to modern technology with its equipments that aid the disabled such the amputees to use artificial arms and legs (Bressan, 2008). However, despite all this achievements, it goes without failing to mention that. Disabled face obstacles in terms of integrity and fairness in their competitions.                                    

In this particular integrative piece of reflection my research is based on the findings documented in the Journal of Sport & Social Issues and Striving for Fairness in Paralympic Sport.  My chosen piece of writing in this conversational and self-analysing will be centred on how  Paralympics is not only changing  but also influencing and accelerating the rate at which and how  people perceive disabilities in the modern societies. Also covered are the two types of models of the disability namely the Medical and Social. These models focus on the physical, mental and Sensory areas of disability.

I am going to validate, in my opinions, reactions and reflections, the model that is the best for the athletes putting into consideration our today’s fast growing and high tech society. The model will be the social model. This particular model firmly attributes society as the major cause of disability and its hindrance in choice making by the disabled. It highlights a number of ways through which the society has achieved to “disable” the disabled. Such ways include attitude, stereotypes and unequal access to societal opportunities by the disabled. The social model was founded by athletes who had various disabilities upon being displeased with the then medical model. I side with the founders and greatly recommend social model. The main reason behind the rejection of the previous model by the disabled is attributed to the fact that they were considered as problem that need fixation through medical approaches.

Models of disability: Medical and Social

A medical model in contrast to the social model, it is dedicated to fixing impairments in the disabled from medical point of view .It explains that disability is as a result of abnormalities in the body forms. Thus it attempts to correct these abnormalities through curing and controlling. In other words if the individual loses his or her leg, the medical approach is to fix another one. What the medical model does not highlight is that the society in which these disabled stay influences disability.

All in all it is a fundamental logic that those that are disabled are treated and handled in a manner that nurtures as well as safeguards their sense of worth or self-esteem. A simple illustration that I can personally associate with is about a child who experienced difficulties in learning. The kid was never in position mentally to competitively play in the fields. However, he was beyond doubt to physically compete. Considering physical prowess the child would have ended up a bully. However, this was never the case as the sports’ as well as concerned teacher took control of the kid’s physical capabilities and directed him towards success. To me this is how the social model comes in handy and highlights how the society can help the disabled into the able persons. The model calls upon the leaders, the gifted as well as the fortunate ones to know they have a role to play in the enabling the disabled.

Cases of disability can be traced as back as during the age of western scientific enlightenment when physical abnormalities were realised through observations made using a different lens. Today according to the Annual Disability Status Report, there are about 650 million people having various forms of disability. This figure translates to not less than 10% of the world’s population.

There are an estimated 200 million mentally disabled worldwide. Many of the intellectually disabled (mentally) sport participants suffer from Down’s syndrome disorder which has an effect not only on their health but also ability to take part in athletic activities. Their interaction level with the environment is low. This forces them to go through screening with cervical spine radiographs before evolvement in the Special Olympics. However, the best part is physically able thus to say cheering them up to take part in a sport would not only help them but also would give relief to society as an entity. The intensity of disability is a significant contemplation but gives profit to the disabled as they would be uplifted by a number of factors namely economy, general health. In this category the disabled takes the lion’s share since rarely are neither alcohol abusers nor smokers.

The social model as the best approach

The visually impaired subcategorized as blind and partial sight and the deaf have been given exceptional consideration in the past year. Under the considerations were the physical and legislative resolutions that were really supportive in several ways. Legislative solutions included modified rules so as to allow the visually impaired to participate maximally. On the other hand physical solutions can be summarised into use of adaptive equipments and techniques. Examples of such adaptations are bell balls, hoola hoops, bean bags just to name a few. These solutions in addition gave them, in most scenarios freedom and consequently stopped feeling as being a burden society or vice versa. (Goff, 2012)

Hearing can be improved among the affected by the use of can hearing aids where by some are fixed internally enabling them to participate in numerous games and sports. The International Committee for Sport for the Deaf was established in the year 1924 with an aim of running the Deaflympics. It has gained excess and popularity in more than 110 competing countries and has fascinatingly produced sportsmen and women of the year. It continues to set root in more countries year by tear making it a strong and famous foundation. (Ref: https://www.deaflympics.com/icds )

Vision on the other hand does not score sore highly as per that number of games available. However, the sports that catch the eye for blind competitors are on a terrific increase. Good examples are board riding and Soccer which allows use of a special ball and is currently being played in several countries around the globe. The available teams for the visually impaired are grouped into those for the partial and total blind. The fans and funders for the game are scaling high considering its worldwide reception and the excitement that comes along with soccer has given it an extra boost to the athletes.

The International Blind Sports Federation was founded in the year 1961 at Unesco with 30 countries in attendance and has been a committed associate of the International Paralympics Committee. Since its foundation, the number of the member nations has grown to 110 with 12 active sports with many more other sports underway. (Ref: www.ibsasport.org)

I must admit that this reflection inevitably biased considering the fact that I am disabled too. My today is to some extend due to unforeseen happenings that I would not want to talk about. However, I would desire everything feasible to be put in place to make sure that my self-respect is upheld. Although it is most probable that I might gain assistance from scientific aids like a pacemaker, my greatest wish is that i become equal to all available potentials. This is where  I come down on the social model and a firm that indeed it’s   the best for persons living with disabilities.

Challenges faced by the disabled in sports and society

The Paralympics has played a considerable contribution in making sure there are changes in  the way people view disabilities especially the physical disabilities since they are easy to be spotted and recognized. Other disabilities like hearing and mental require notification and thus pose a challenge. However, Paralympics have offered a platform for both physically and mentally disadvantaged to prove to the world that indeed disability is not inability and whatever a normal person can do they can do it too. This has   made people view the disabled athletes from their ability to compete point of view. One particular game that has caught people’s attention and revolutionized their imaginations and perceptions is rugby. The disable have taken charge on their wheelchairs pushing rugby to great heights. I now acknowledge meaning of para as being equal in Paralympics. (Ref: https://theconversation.com/the-paralympics-is-changing-the-way-people-perceive-disabilities-65407)

Despite the fact that this elite athlete competition seizes the best outcome of this 4 years’ unique event, it is against those athletes with disabilities who participate in these games for their daily pleasure and social benefits such as companionship and sense of accomplishment. Thus it is clear that four years is long for the disabled to wait so that they can display what they have got. There is need for amendments.

Conclusion

Emergency of more and more international games for the disabled is as per the Paralympics is a clear evidence that disability is being overcome in the society. Today there is an approximate of 548 games and sports held in Paralympics with thousands of participants from not less than 100 countries. This tremendous achievement brings need of asking why there were no paralympic games before 1960s. To answer this question the social model of disabilities comes in handy. The logic answer is that the society had “killed” the Paralympics. The disabled had no voice in the society and consequently no self esteem to exploit their potentials. Thus to say the social model should be supported as it is getting the best out of the disabled. Paralympics on other hand should be praised and embraced for giving the disable a golden opportunity to show the world they are not burdens and can be whatever they want to be given the chance and favourable environment.

References:

Bressan, E., (2008): “Striving for fairness in Paralympic sport: Support from applied sport science

Brittain, I., (2004): “Perceptions of Disability and their Impact upon Involvement in Sport for people with Disabilities at all Levels

https://theconversation.com/the-paralympics-is-changing-the-way-people-perceive-disabilities-65407)

www.ibsasport.org

https://www.deaflympics.com/icds

https://paralympicanorak.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/some-barriers-to-involvement-in-sport-for-people-with-disabilities/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/28/why-paralympics-wont-challenge-perceptions-disabled

https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/knowledge_base/organised_sport/sport_and_government_policy_objectives/persons_with_disability_and_sport

https://jsfd.org/2015/12/29/disability-sport-changing-lives-changing-perceptions-editorial/

https://www.peoplewithpotential.org/perceptions-disability

 World Health Organization, "World report on disability", Geneva, 2011

Goff, Mandy (March 2012). "Adapted Sport Programs for Veterans with Disabilities"