cams blog

     Before taking this class, I did not understand the challenges and processes disabled athletes had to go through to be able to compete on a professional level. I knew nothing about ADA, IPC, and other aspects that have a significant impact on who they let compete, not just on the professional level. There are so many levels of competition, skills, and dedication involved, as well as the barriers that these individuals face. I had mostly thought disability sport was just a modified version of traditional sports to focus on the disability rather than their athletic capabilities. My opinions on disability in sports have evolved to more greatly appreciate the impact it has on our society today.      In class, I have learned that adaptive sports are not merely adaptations; they are highly competitive and an empowering group of human beings. These athletes have a diverse range of sports available, from wheelchair basketball to adaptive track and field. With s...

      The relationship between Paralympics and Special Olympics has been a debate for a very long time. This debate has been primarily about whether these two categories of people should be in competition with each other or separated in the athletic aspect. There is most definitely a fine line between the two; these events both honor athletes with disabilities, but they differ in the purpose and scope of the actual competition. With those two simple differences, it shows people that it is best if they stay separated because it helps highlight the integrity and mission of each separate movement. There is, of course, the other thought of whether one specific category of people with intellectual disabilities should be able to even compete in the Paralympics. This specific part is a more challenging category to differentiate and requires more time, consideration, and classification, depending on the sport, to ensure fairness for everyone who competes. The separation does not ...