View
135
Download
1
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
Honey or Vinegar
Andrea BundonSchool of Kinesiology
The University of British Columbia
Athletes with disabilities discuss strategies foradvocacy within the Paralympic Movement
OVERVIEW
Project Design Findings Discussion
Questions and Comments
The AthletesFirst Project
TheAthletesFirstProject
Vancouver 2014
Ge
rald
De
o/T
he
Ub
yssey
The AthletesFirst Project
ProjectDesign
Participatory Action Research
5 community co-researchers(all Paralympians)
Created 'AthletesFirst' blog
Took turns writing posts
Encouraged others to discuss anddebate issues
The AthletesFirst Project
ProjectDesign
14 months
34 blog posts
339 comments
9,700 visits
6,500 visitors
97 countries (63% Canada)
The AthletesFirst Project
ProjectDesign
25 semi-structured, qualitativeinterviews with blog authors andreaders
Blog posts and comments
Social media
Ongoing process of blogging,interviewing, analysis
The AthletesFirst Project
Findings
Authors and audiences described postsas a form of advocacy on behalf ofathletes with disabilities
They felt the posts were intended toeducate others in the sport system
They aimed to change ableist practicesin the sport system and challengedisablism
The AthletesFirst Project
Findings ORhoney
vinegar
The AthletesFirst Project
honey
"Why an integrated program? Becausethere simply aren't enough adaptiveathletes for an adaptive-only program.Kudos to [the club] for being willing toaccept me as a member and to thecoaches who have been great..."
The AthletesFirst Project
honey
"I've had a couple of people ask aboutmy vision and I'm happy to answerquestions. However, most of them startwith, 'So how much vision do you have -75, 80%? When I tell them I have lessthan 10%, they often say, 'Wow, you suredon't look like it.'
They have no idea that while it may looklike I am simply grabbing an oar andwalking out to the boat, every move Imake is a calculated one... I make sure Iam never the first one to the oar racksto avoid the embarrassing situation ofwhacking the surrounding boats likepiñatas."
The AthletesFirst Project
honey
"Once we launch, things get a littleeasier. Rowing is a very repetitive sportand when things are going well, there isa predictable rhythm to follow. But thisis a novice program and all of us are stillworking on technique so beingconsistent is not our strong suit yet."
The AthletesFirst Project
honey
Honey Advocacy
1. Thankful
2. Humourous and self-deprecating
3. 'We'
The AthletesFirst Project
vinegar
"I understand the arguments againstoffering adaptive categories. I realizethat it takes more volunteers and moreset up time. But really! We are takingthe time to set up these events anyways.It's discrimination not to offer adaptivecategories. It sends out the messagethat adaptive racers are not asimportant... Don't we as adaptive peoplehave enough challenges in trying to keepfit? Having to remind local raceorganizers every single season that weare here and want to race is getting alittle old."
The AthletesFirst Project
vinegar
"I am a below-knee amputee and myqualifying time for the Boston Marathonis 8:00:00. Yes EIGHT HOURS!! For thoseof you who don't run and aren't surewhat that time means... it means 'if youare missing a leg we're happy to haveyou here.' "
The AthletesFirst Project
vinegar
Vinegar Advocacy
1. Use language of discrimination
2. Humourous but sarcastic
3. 'Us' and 'Them'
The AthletesFirst Project
Discussion
"For human beings, advocacy is adefault setting. We seek change for thebetter; we struggle to protect thatwhat we have. Advocacy is a plea forwhat we want and see needed."
(Stake & Rosu, 2012, p. 45)
The AthletesFirst Project
Discussion
"It would be difficult to impossible totry to be equally 'advocative' all thetime. There are times and places forfull effort, and times and places forkeeping our partisanship unexpressed.We have multiple advocacies and theycannot all be shouted simultaneously.For physical and political reasons, ouradvocacies are intermittent."
(Stake & Rosu, 2012, p. 48)
AcknowledgementsThank you to all the athletes, bloggers andblog readers who contributed to theAthletesFirst project.
This research was supported by the
Recommended