Wheelchair Sports

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Wheelchair Sports: Living A Full and Healthy Life

It wasn't all that long ago when people thought that handicapped individuals, such as those confined to wheelchairs, didn't have the ability to participate in sports. Public awareness was piqued when Eunice Shriver started a day camp in 1962 to help children with disabilities explore sports and found that they were both eager to participate and had a lot of athletic talents. Mrs. Shriver was foresighted enough to realize that thousands of people around the world were missing out on some of life's most pleasurable activities. From that humble beginning, Special Olympics have spread throughout the world, and wheelchair sports have become venues where disabled athletes can shine.

It's sad to think about how many disabled individuals were historically denied the rights enjoyed by everyone else. All throughout history you will find cases of handicapped people being sent to institutions where they spent the rest of their lives. Its only been in the past few decades that we have begun to acknowledge that disabled doesn't mean lacking in capabilities. No one wants to spend their lives just watching everyone else, and these people want the chance to live with the independence that sports can give them.

I used to work with a group of high school students in wheelchairs. Even though many of them were unable to speak, it was easy to see that they wanted to be just like everyone else. Jason was a real jokester, Brian loved flirting with the girls, and Alan enjoyed being part of a boisterous group of laughing teens. All three of these guys enjoyed playing in wheelchair sports in the Special Olympics, too. Their eyes would light up when you mentioned the words to them. It was important to their well-being
to be able to be participate in sports.

Success in wheelchair sports can't be measured in the same way as it often is in the professional sports we see on television, by who wins or loses a game. In Special Olympics, success is measured by meeting challenges head on, having other people cheer you on, and learning to do something just a little bit better today. Success means being just like everyone else and having the opportunity to express the things that make you unique. Success is also being given the chance to try.