In a recent blog post Liz Sayce, CEO of Disability Rights UK looks at the mixed response towards the Paralympics from disabled people. Liz notes that “The Paralympics seem to be prompting a mixture of great celebration amongst disabled people – and notes of real caution. One theme of debate runs something like this: does the image of the ‘superhero’ (to use Channel 4’s language) shed a negative light on disabled people who aren’t working, who may be cast even more as scroungers by contrast?”
“As the Guardian put it, ‘“Yes I can” (the catchphrase of Channel 4’s Superhumans film) drifts too easily towards “No such thing as can’t!”. And the result is that all disabled people (potentially) are expected to manage without benefits, social care and other essentials to independent lives. A protest over disability benefit cuts that closed London’s Westminster Bridge on the opening day of the Paralympics got widespread news coverage.”
“Concerns like these have prompted some demonstrators to call for ‘Rights not Games’ – not to criticise the games themselves, but to push for rights for all disabled people. Others note that Paralympians themselves may be feted one minute, denied a Motability car the next.”
“On the other hand, when else do we have prime time TV dedicated day after day to disabled people? When else do we have mainstream presenters from Clare Balding to Jonathan Edwards reporting on disabled people’s sport? When else do we have strong new disabled presenters getting significant TV roles – with a deaf person doing the link pieces between programmes, and advertisers like Maltesers featuring disabled people.”
“The power of the Paralympics is, without a doubt, helping to give us a platform. And we can take the opportunity to shift our narrative – by pushing full participation at every level: from nightclubs to schools, faith organisations, workplaces and everywhere.”
To read the full article from Liz Sayce, click here, and let us know whether you think the Paralympics are a force for good, or if they could lead to an expectation that disabled people should ‘get by’ without the help they need? Let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter, or over on our Facebook page.
27 Jul 2017 11:30:29
Disability Sheffield please note that the article starts by acknowledging the “mixed response” to the Paralympics. Unfortunately Disability Sheffield currently can not get their heads around mixed responses. The need for self expression is suppressed by Disability Sheffield with censorship and Black & White approach to comments expressed here. Let the people decide for themselves. As for the Paralympics, I take objection to the sponsors of the paralympics; ATOS -the “medical services” business whowongly declare profoundly disabled and ill people fit for work leading to many deaths often by suicide of disabled people
27 Jul 2017 15:27:52
I think, on the contrary, Disability Sheffield does very well in giving a voice to the many diverse voices amidst the disability community. Most people I think would be sympathetic with your views about the suitability of the sponsors of the 2017 games. As much as we respect the views of those who think the PAralympics and Para World Athletics advance he cause of disability equality there are many who don’t enthuse so readily, such as disabled people like Mick Scarlett, whose views are so artuclulately expressed in this article: https://disabilitynow.org.uk/2016/09/13/the-paralympics-not-everyone-is-game/