Tag Archives: adaptive sports

When One Door Closes, Build Another: Emphasizing Autonomy Through Choice

Choice is a fundamental part of being human. Whether it’s deciding who to be around, where to live, what to do with your free time – choice is woven into the fabric of daily life. For many individuals (especially those with disabilities, mental health conditions, or other marginalized experiences) choice isn’t always a given. In […]

Patience in Advocacy: The Price of Admission

Let’s be honest – dealing with the people around the person with a disability is often half the battle. Some families and support teams are deeply engaged, educated, and proactive. Others are overwhelmed, struggling to even know where to start. Then there are those who, despite the best of intentions, have wildly different ideas about […]

Growing Pains: Navigating Development in Adaptive Sports

Athletes with lower limb amputations wearing orange jerseys and using forearm crutches walk off a soccer field at sunset. The text overlay reads, “GROWING PAINS: Navigating Development in Adaptive Sports” in bold yellow and white font against a purple banner.

Imagine a young athlete (perhaps a little Argentinian named Messi or a young baller named Lebron) with immense potential, but limited-to-no opportunities to develop as a player. Their family is eager to help, but unsure how to navigate the complex systems of advocacy and program development. Meanwhile, a national organization wants to grow its sports […]

True Inclusion in Sports: Moving Beyond Token Gestures

Inclusion in sports is not just about allowing participation – it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and supported. Yet, even in spaces designed to be inclusive, systemic biases and microaggressions often undermine the very purpose of inclusion. A recent futsal game I attended revealed how these dynamics play out in real […]