Phil Hayes-Brown’s Post

“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

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

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.

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

“The Paralympics should start right after the Olympics!” Here’s why it doesn’t: The Paralympics has to renovate the Village and performance venues so that they are accessible to the athletes that will be using them. This means making it accessible for the variety of athletes coming through. The Paralympics focuses on “ six main disability categories which include: "amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, visually impaired, spinal injuries and Les Autres (French for "the others," a category that includes conditions that do not fall into the categories mentioned before)." This is why the Paralympics will begin August 28th. Make sure to tune in! #Paralympics #Olympics #Disability #Neurodiversity #Paris2024

Simone Biles has redefined success beyond gold 🌟 Biles has shown us once again what true greatness looks like. Despite the challenges and a few missteps in the recent Olympic finals, she leaves Paris with a renewed sense of accomplishment, adding to her already stellar career with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship titles. Her journey is not just about winning medals, but about breaking barriers, both in and out of the gym. Simone's story is a powerful reminder that success is not defined solely by podium finishes. It’s about resilience, pushing boundaries, and prioritizing well-being—both physical and mental. In a world that often expects perfection, especially from women, Simone has taught us that it’s okay to prioritize our mental health and that doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness. Her transparency about the pressures she faced, particularly during the Tokyo Olympics, has sparked vital conversations about the importance of mental health in sports and beyond. Why do I share this?, Because what happens in the social context is also a reflection of our societies, the problems we have and what we can work on from home and in the workplace. At the heart of the EU corporate world, we can every day build safe environments where everyone—regardless of their gender—can thrive and reach their full potential. Simone’s story inspires us as society, to continue integrating diversity and mental health support into our business strategies. Let’s take a moment to celebrate her achievements, not just as a gymnast, but as a trailblazer for gender equality as a whole, and mental health awareness. #Inclusion #Mentalhealth #Leadership Read more about Biles: https://lnkd.in/d46Qqm5t

Standing on the world stage at the Paralympics, surrounded by thousands of cheering fans, I learned the true meaning of high performance, resilience and the incredible abilities of people with disabilities. My medals — three gold, three silver, and one bronze — represent breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. In my latest blog, I share my journey and how the Paralympics have shaped my perspective on disability as a strength, not a limitation. I also dive into the incredible #WeThe15 movement and how it aims to create a world where people with disabilities are recognised and included in all aspects of life. Join me as I explore how the power of positive media representation, like the 'You Little Ripper' podcast and resources like JobAccess, can help us see ability, not disability. Discover how a strengths-based approach to diversity and inclusion can transform workplaces and communities, just as it has transformed my life. 🏅💪 Read the full blog here - https://lnkd.in/gkA3DFex #KatrinaWeb #OAM #Paralympics #WeThe15 #DiversityAndInclusion #StrengthsBasedApproach #DisabilityAwareness

MY OPINION: REFLECTION ON HOW TO BOOST PARASPORTS IN NEPAL The recent 4th Para Asian Games have concluded. Positively, Nepal grabbed some a medal and this is important, very important and big congratulations to Palesha Goverdhan who won a Bronze Winner in Taekwondo. Still there is so much that can be done to leverage the skills and potentials of adaptive athletes. #inclusion #sportsforall #sportsforchange #sdgs2030 #sportsfordevelopment

The Olympics begins today in Paris, France, so I thought it apropos to note that the 2024 Paralympics will follow beginning on August 28 and ending on September 8. Like the Olympic Games, the Paralympics are for elite athletes. The difference is the Paraolympians all have at least one disability that falls into one of six categories: 1. Amputee 2. Cerebral Palsy 3. Intellectual Disability 4. Visual Impairment 5. Spinal Injury 6. Les Autres (the Others) “Para” translates to “Alongside,” meaning that the event occurs every four years following the Olympic Games. The objective of Special Olympics, on the other hand, is to offer sporting competition to athletes of all abilities. To participate, the athlete must have an intellectual disability. #Paraolympics #disabilities #disabilityempowerment #disabilitypride #Athletes #Epilectra #GraphicNovel #superheroes

It’s ok to get it wrong, as long as you reflect on and learn from your mistakes. Well done to #channel4 for ripping up its controversial “superhuman” narrative used in marketing campaigns for the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, and instead focussing on the sporting successes and achievements of para athletes. Not “Superhuman” but “Super. Human”. It’s patronising for disabled people to be thought of as superheroes for excelling in their chosen sport or profession, and language which seems positive and supportive can actually come across as inequitable and non-inclusive. I often experience it myself at a significantly lower sporting level when people say to me (often accompanied by the subconscious pitying head tilt!) “wow you row and run half marathons even though you have MS”…in my case, it’s actually because of the MS - my condition gives me resilience and tenacity that I never had before my diagnosis! I hear so many people avoiding discussing disability at all for fear of getting it wrong and inadvertently causing offence. The best solution is open and transparent communication - bringing disabled people into the conversation and listening to their input on language/treatment/adjustments/workplace policies. I believe it is far better to discuss disability in an open and forgiving forum and stumble over the language than to avoid the conversation altogether. #disabilityinclusion #multiplesclerosis #disabledathletes #paralympics