What the Paralympics Can Teach Us About Ableism in Sports | Psychology Today

By Nicole Fiscella and Kathleen Bogart

Many people around the world have been cozying up on the couch to watch elite athletes compete, first in the 2022 Winter Olympics, and now in the Paralympics. While it is exciting to watch these athletes dominate in their sport, we should also question whether the Paralympics is a place where only “acceptable disabled people” are celebrated. That is, do the Paralympics reflect a hierarchy of disability in which only those with the least stigmatized disabilities can participate? In an interview with journalist Erin Ekins, two-time Paralympic gold medalist Stephanie Wheeler alludes to this:

When I was an athlete competing at the Paralympics, it wasn’t complicated to me at all. I bought into being the best of the best, so I trained with the mindset of trying to be as minimally disabled as I possibly could to align myself with non-disabled athletes.

When only “acceptable disabled people” are featured in elite sports, it sends a message to the public that only some disabilities are worth celebrating. When Paralympic athletes do not represent the true diversity of disability, individuals with disabilities may struggle to relate to someone like them.

Biased representation of disabled athletes happens not only at elite levels, but also in local communities. A recent video has gone viral of freshman basketball player Jonathan J.'s coach saying he makes it a point to put Jonathan, who has Down syndrome, in at the end of each game. At this point, Jonathan is not given access to the court during game play, but instead, regular play ceases and all attention is on him. Unlike when his teammates have the ball, there are no rules. Jonathan is cheered on and encouraged to shoot over and over and over until he sinks the ball. While some may see this as a positive moment, treating Jonathan differently may be a disservice to him and others who may follow him.

A similar example of ableist representation happened back in 2006 when a story went viral of a young man named Jason who wanted nothing more than to be on his high school basketball team. Jason, who identifies as autistic, served as the equipment manager for the team. In the last game of the year, the coach allowed him to suit up and play. He “shocked the crowd” by shooting six three-pointers and one two-pointer within the last four minutes of the game. Social media posts like this, about students with disabilities coming in during the final minutes of a game to be a part of the team, send a signal not only to the athlete involved, but also to those around him, that his ability isn’t viewed as "worthy" of a full game.

Inspirational Narrative

Situations such as these may be well-intentioned and at first glance look harmless. However, when athletes with disabilities are portrayed as inspirational, surprising, or tragic, it can perpetuate ableism. These one-time opportunities or patronizing events can become spectacles that objectify the disabled person for the benefit of a feel-good moment for non-disabled individuals.

These two stories of boys with disabilities are examples of inspirational narratives. Within this narrative, disabled individuals are either a) inspirational for completing routine activities of daily living, or b) inspirational for "overcoming" their disability. For many people with disabilities, "overcoming" their disability is not desirable or even possible. When "overcoming" is the dominant narrative, it can create biased expectations for those who do not overcome their disability.

A quick search using the term "disabled athletes" yields articles with phrases that include "inspiring" and "athletes who overcame disability." Athletes with disabilities have spoken out about their experiences with the inspirational narrative.

U.S. Paralympian Jessica Long spoke about her distaste for being perceived as inspirational in an interview with Ben Shpigel:

It’s not a word we like to hear. I’m just doing what I do. I’ve been a bilateral amputee since birth, and I don’t know anything else. I’m not just going to stay in my house and hide.

Advocating for Change

Greater promotion of unified sports in which the athletes play the duration of the game, not just the last few minutes, can help reduce ableism. Disabled athletes should be seen on the same playing field as able-bodied peers. Numerous organizations have developed over the last several years in an effort to educate and support the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in sports. Such organizations are not only targeted toward athletes, but coaches as well. For example, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play works to educate coaches on the proper inclusion of young athletes with disabilities in sports. One popular organization, Unified Sports, unites Special Olympics athletes and partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) as teammates for training and competition. Other organizations include Bounce Out the Stigma, Little League Challenger Division, Rise Adaptive Sports, and Zero Project. Many of these organizations' events take place in the community to promote awareness and inclusion of disabled athletes’ engagement in sports.

Paralympic gold medallist and disability campaigner Liz Johnson said regarding media coverage of the Paralympics:

These stories are interpreted in a way which makes Paralympians out to be heroes who have ‘beaten the odds’ or ‘defied belief.’ This is damaging for both Paralympic athletes and the wider disabled community.

The Paralympics could be an international catalyst for change highlighting what disabled athletes are capable of through hard work and dedication—as long as they aren't depicted as "overcoming" their disabilities. It's time for the Paralympics to increase the diversity of disabilities represented. The world needs more role models.

Nicole Fiscella, M.S., MPM, is a doctoral candidate in Kinesiology at Oregon State University and a student in Dr. Bogart’s Psychology of Disability class.