Running is empowering for many blind and partially sighted people, but they can face a range of societal barriers to get involved.
PE teachers need better training to ensure children with disabilities have as much access to school sports as their able-bodied peers.
Ladanifer / Alamy Stock Photo
Inclusive education has been promoted since the 1970s. But research shows children with disabilities are still excluded from school activities and sports in particular
Malaysia’s Chew Wei Lun plays a shot during a gold medal Boccia match at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Boccia is only one of three summer Paralympic sports where athletes can compete while using a powerchair.
(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Within the parasport community itself, inclusivity and access is a real issue, especially for those who do not fit the mold of how we think an athlete “should” look or move.
Most sporting equipment is designed with typical able-bodied athletes in mind, whereas custom equipment to meet a particular Paralympian’s needs can be expensive. 3D printing offers a third way.