We Aren't Helpless

 


    Increasing media coverage of the Paralympics and other disabled sports could be done in a number of different ways. Firstly, since both of the games are aired at the same time then their commercials should be filmed together. It's common knowledge that the Olympic games have a bigger following than the Paralympics. If the commercials were filmed and aired with both competitors, it would draw more attention to the Paralympics. Every commercial for the Olympics should also have a snippet letting the viewers know that they could simultaneously be watching the Paralympics as well. Secondly, I think that the TV schedule for the games should be used changeably between the two games as they are going on. For example, the Olympic 500-yard dash is aired and then the Paralympic 500-yard dash is aired. Using the games literally simultaneously for people to be able to watch both of the games with the different athletes. Lastly, I think that the Paralympics should be getting more funding for things like advertisement. I went online and looked at the funding for the games and how much they charge for tickets. For the Paris 2024 the Paralympics charges about 15 euros per ticket and the Olympics is anywhere from 24-950 euros a ticket and that is excluding all ceremonies. If the Paralympics was granted more funding, they would be able to advertise more and get more watchers that would increase the value of the tickets. The cost of the different tickets alone shows the major difference in following when it comes to the two different games. You would think that because they are done at the same time that the following would be relatively the same but unfortunately that is not the case. 

    In the media people with disabilities are being portrayed as helpless or supercrips. Disabled people have tried to make it very clear over and over again that they are not different. There are tons of interviews and videos of disabled people blatantly telling us that they are just like us. They have the same desires, dreams, and aspirations as an able-bodied person does. As much as they try to tell us themselves it still feels like the narrative is the same for them. One of the ways that we can address this issue is for able bodied people who have close connections with disabled people to shed light. It feels like when disabled people say it the able-bodied people aren't listening. What if someone "like them" i.e. an able-bodied person talked about the subject and spread awareness, would it change their views and opinions. I follow an inter-abled couple online and it always seems that the commenters ask the able-bodied girlfriend more questions about it then they do the disabled boyfriend. We will eventually be able to come to an agreement where disabled people feel heard and accepted as equals, but it will take a societal change. 

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