Paralympic Special: Inclusivity and Inspiration

This week, as the spectacular Paralympic Games open in Paris, we turn our attention to all things Paralympics, but also, to consider the challenges of impairment beyond sport and the true meaning of inclusivity. As a friend of ours who is visually impaired once said. while recognising the efforts of many to be aware of her needs, “I often get invited to the party, but very rarely do I get invited to dance.” So, what can we do to ensure that our impaired friends enjoy the dances that they might share with us? Along the way, we’ll also take some inspiration from what’s happening in Paris – including cheering on the partner of the daughter of a friend of Ellen, who is among the 4,000 and more Paralympians taking part! Where does the word Paralympics come from? How can fair competition happen when athletes taking part in different sports have different levels of impairment? What does it mean to be a Paralympian? These questions and more are also on our minds this week in an inspiring, informative, and encouraging episode!

Suggested focus for intention this week

This week, we might consider how each one of us individually can take steps to become more inclusive of people with impairments. We therefore suggest holding as our special focus this week:

We will that we will always be mindful of, and have wisdom to know how to be as fully inclusive as possible of people we may meet who have an impairment, when planning activities, entertaining others, and in general conversation, whether their impairment is known to us or otherwise.

Please join us in holding this. And if you yourself have an impairment, you may wish to especially focus the intention on willing greater awareness of where others may best have wisdom to ensure that you not only get invited to the party, but you feel fully a part of the dance. If this includes you, please do share in the Facebook group what we all can do to make this happen!

Websites referred to for this episode:

Our special thanks to Tammy for sharing her insights in our research for this episode.

Watch Kaitlyn Eaton, Team USA Basketball Paralympian, prepare for the Paris Games in the Outsports special 'Ballin' Out,' which premiers this week. Series trailer:

 https://www.outsports.com/2024/8/20/24100529/usa-wheelchair-basketball-women-ballin-out-lgbtq-gay-athletes-series/

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games official website https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024

United Nations member states disability legislation (country listing) https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/disability-laws-and-acts-by-country-area.html

Sources referred to for this episode:

https://businesscasestudies.co.uk/from-challenges-to-champions-2024-paralympic-stories-that-inspire/

https://eye-able.com/blog/accessibility-laws-worldwide

https://mebster.com/meblog/perseverance-and-triumph-the-journey-of-paralympic-athletes

https://moneysmartathlete.com/the-financial-struggles-of-paralympic-athletes/hidden-hurdles-paralympic-athletes/

https://nda.ie/disability-policy/international-policy-legislation

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-strategies.html

https://www.disabilitywales.org/socialmodel/inclusive-language-and-imagery/

https://www.englandathletics.org/team-england/talent-pathway/paralympic-talent-programme/

https://www.equalrepresentation.scot/toolkit/6-party-culture/33-describing-disabled-people/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/inclusive-language-words-to-use-and-avoid-when-writing-about-disability

https://www.nchpad.org/1518/6485/How~to~Become~a~Paralympian

https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-persons-disabilities

https://www.paralympic.org/athletics/classification

https://www.theperformanceroom.co.uk/disaster-triumph-take-brilliantly-resilient/

https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/disability-laws-and-acts-by-country-area.html

https://www.usopc.org/eligibility-information

https://youtu.be/ZuG87e3vJxs

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-strategies.html

https://www.who.int/health-topics/disability#tab=tab_1

https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/resources/factsheet-on-persons-with-disabilities.html

https://www.humanity-inclusion.org.uk/en/action/disability-the-global-picture

https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/disabled-people-in-the-world-in-2021-facts-and-figures/

https://gelovationseurope.com/the-story-of-the-paralympic-games/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-the-paralympic-movement-evolved-into-major-sporting-event

Join us in person for intenton holding:  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.  

Our websites:   

www.heartfulimpact.com/   Our show website.  

https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.  

https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.  

Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.  

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Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).  

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Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.