Whether you are an armchair quarterback, a weekend warrior or an accomplished athlete, you know that sports and competition embody the determination and winning mindset of the American spirit. If you were born with or have acquired a disability, you need not worry about being left on the sidelines. Opportunities for disabled athletes to compete and excel in sports are abundant and growing in number each year.
Sports, Rehabilitation and Life Skills
According to Disabled Sports USA, individuals faced with a disability often feel a sense of loss, diminished confidence, depression and a disconnect from friends and family. Sports and competition build confidence and help restore self-esteem by providing disabled athletes with a forum in which they can succeed and excel. Sports give disabled athletes the strategic tools they need to cope with adversity and challenge, both on the playing field and in daily life.
Intellectual Disability Sports
Individuals with an intellectual disability need tools to cope in a world that is often intolerant and unkind. Organizations geared to intellectually disabled athletes, such as the Special Olympics, claim that "sports provide a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy." To quote marathon runner and Special Olympian Billy Quick, "You might be able to out-read me, but I can out-run you." For the intellectually disabled, sports provide a unique opportunity to out-perform their intellectually "normal" peers.
Wounded Veterans Sports
In an era when young men and women are becoming disabled in combat daily, sports provides an avenue for rehabilitation and a transition back into civilian life. The Veterans Administration began using sports as a tool for rehabilitation shortly after World War II. Today, in conjunction with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the VA sponsors the Veterans Wheelchair Games. The Games provide over 500 disabled veteran athletes a competitive venue in which to showcase their athleticism. The Wheelchair Games features 17 different sporting events and continues to grow annually.
World Class Disabled Athletics
In September 1989, the International Paralympics Committee was formed to meet the demand for and desire of accomplished disabled athletes to compete on a global scale. The Paralympic Games features both summer and winter sports, held simultaneously with the Olympic Games. In the Beijing Paralympic Games of 2008, 3,951 elite athletes from 146 countries competed. Many Paralympians get their start in local competitions, going on to train for higher stakes and world-class status.
References
- Disabled Sports USA: Sports as Rehabilitation
- Disabled World: What Are Disability Sports?
- Special Olympics: Empowering Ahtletes Through Sport
- International Paralympics Committee: IPC
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs: National Veterans Wheelchair Games
- Paralyzed Veterans of America: National Veterans Wheelchair Games
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