The Struggles of Disabled Athletes That Exceed Their Disability.

Today I read an article Forging Path to Starting Line for Younger Disabled Athletes by Mary Pilon on the New York Times that talked about disabled athletes trying to beat sports officials in the topic of whether they could compete with able bodied athletes. There are many challenges for these athletes, especially ones in school (which seems to be the focus of this article) when it comes to competition such as accommodations, safety, and also, the fairness of specific things (ex. wheelchair vs. average human runner). For example, Ariz Mesa, a tennis player deaf since birth, felt discrimination against her when her interpreter who told her the scores was taken away, resulting in the loss of a tournament during her sophomore year. Though some states have already ensured that disabled students are included in sports and extracurricular activities, some sports officials still seem to be conflicted and unsure. With regards to safety and accommodation, many coaches have already begun to explore this new idea of accommodating and including disabled students in different areas of sports (even contact sports) and though this struggle has only just begun, the first steps have at least been taken. 

Seeing that the author has used many ways to show the sides and struggles of disabled athletes, I would say that she is definitely trying to get people to understand why they (disabled people) too should be included in the sports that we can do with ease. There is one specific quote that she used that I think shows her point very clearly and it is said by a 17 year old girl who uses a wheelchair when people told her that she, using a wheelchair, had an advantage. She said "I just didn't get the fact that they [sports officials] were saying I had an advantage because I was in a wheelchair. How do I have an advantage because I can't use half of my body? It didn't make any sense to me".  This quote showed the athlete's anger (and perhaps the anger of the author as well) that Pilon may have wanted the readers to feel. Overall I would believe that Pilon wanted the readers to think about the unfair and harsh circumstances that disabled athletes must face. Not only was playing the sport already more difficult than it would be for able bodied people but getting to play it is harder for them as well and that point is what the author, Mary Pilon, wanted the readers to think about. 

After reading this article I felt a deeper understanding of the struggles that disabled people have to face. It is horrible that people discriminate against them while at other times, treat them like they have too many advantages to be equal.  There is no advantage to being disabled and it should be painfully obvious how hard life is for them already so why can't people take the step to make it easier for them? I very much agree with the author for even with their disabilities, disabled people are the same as us and deserve the same privileges as we do. If sport is something we enjoy (and it is) then they should be able to enjoy it too.

What are your opinions? Please feel free to comment.

 Pilon, Mary. "Forging Path to Starting Line for Younger Disabled Athletes." The New York Times 15 Jan 2013 : (online) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/sports/disabled-athletes-suit-up-raising-questions-of-logistics-and-fairness.html?_r=0