The authors highlight how ableism does not exist in isolation from other forms of discrimination. They discuss how ableism issues exist within kinesiology, sport, and physical education but emphasize how such intersects with other forms of oppression. For example, in physical and kinesiology education specifically, we see a curriculum that prioritizes able-bodied individuals and reinforces structural ableism. Children with disabilities are often disadvantaged as a result of a minimally diverse education system and a curriculum and faculty team that are unaware of disability mandates, have limited faculty training and a lack of knowledge of federal disability mandates, in addition to having negative reactions to disability disclosure, among many other issues. In kinesiology education, we see an able-bodied curriculum that encourages ableist attitudes and involves high levels of prejudice, discrimination, microaggression, and deficit language toward disabilities.  This structure both mimics and goes hand-in-hand with the issues of racism, sexism, ageism, and classism that we see in sports, where certain races, genders, and classes are seen as superior, prioritized, and given more advantages in such settings.

 An example of the intertwining of ableism and other forms of discrimination is prominent in upper-level sports, where we already see a lack of inclusion for various races, genders, and ages, in addition to this level of sport being unattainable for lower-class individuals (classism). In addition to this, we see these upper-level sports advertise their able-bodied divisions heavily while negating bringing the same traction to their non-able-bodied leagues of the same sport. Another example of the intertwining oppression between ableism and other forms of discrimination can be observed in underfunded schools in underserved neighbourhoods. These schools, with an already discriminatory physical education curriculum, often lack the resources to provide adaptive opportunities for those with a disability. This results in schools with lower-class students, often in racially charged neighbourhoods, being stripped of their ability to provide inclusionary physical education.

I was surprised by the results to see that I scored quite high in the category of ‘slight automatic preference for able people compared to disabled people’. I consider myself to be an incredibly inclusive, open-minded, and judgment-free person, and expected to see a higher balance between my preference for disabled and abled individuals. The results have not impacted my feelings towards either disabled or abled people, and I do still strongly feel that in my day-to-day life, I have no bias towards one or the other, and I am confident that I will remain treating all people equally. However, coming from a conservative family, though I often do not share their conservative beliefs, I wonder if my results stem from a superficial impact of growing up alongside and being taught conservative beliefs. I am curious now to know if there is more I can or should be doing to further the feeling of acceptance, inclusion, and equality for those around me who identify as disabled. I will continue to be inclusive, open-minded, and judgement-free, but I will also be much more mindful of any oblivious preferences I may unknowingly have.

Impairment

Impairment is considered to be what causes disability. The inability to participate in typical activities or the restriction of partaking in activities that are considered to be normal is impairment. In medical terminology, disability and impairment are both viewed as a problem that causes an adverse effect on an individual. Though the medical and social models of disability are two of the more prominent forms discussed, understanding impairment is crucial to understanding the medical model.

I do not believe that sporting competitions should be integrated. Though I do enjoy the inclusivity that integrated competition would bring, I feel that it would also bring a large amount of inequality between players. As the authors mentioned, not all people with a disability identify as disabled. Likewise, not all disabilities are equal. For example, in an integrated basketball team where some players are fully able-bodied, some are disabled as a paraplegic, and others are disabled as being deaf, all have different abilities and inabilities within that sport. While an able-bodied athlete may have little to no struggles in the sport, a deaf teammate would have more challenges but less than their teammate who requires a wheelchair. The nature of an athlete’s impairment would widely impact their ability to compete on an even playing field with other disabled and able-bodied athletes.  However, I see non-integrated sports as being beneficial in a competitive setting only. Recreationally, I do believe that all athletes should be allowed to play in both an able-bodied or disabled league. The inclusion of athletes with disabilities should be prioritized, but the inequality that can easily be magnified between disabled and able-bodied athletes in competitive environments should equally be considered.

Yes, the film ‘Murderball’ does play into the narrative of the supercrip, in my opinion. However, this opinion is specific to the film and not to the sport of wheelchair rugby in general. Because the film showcased mainly athletes who had found the sport of wheelchair rugby after an accident that caused their disability and how they had to transcend such to be able to compete, I feel that this portrays the exact definition of a supercrip. The film went on to highlight the incredible amount of work that goes into rehabilitation after a severe accident, and the need to relearn independence and how to perform everyday tasks that were once second nature. Only once this rehabilitation is achieved can the athletes begin to learn to use their new bodies in a way that allows them to play modified versions of sports. The documentary mentioned how many athletes do not have full function of their arms and hands and have to use a type of glue to play wheelchair rugby, something that able-bodied players would not have to do. Through highlighting how the athletes had to overcome countless challenges and transcend their impairments to be able to play wheelchair rugby, is to me, the definition of ‘supercrip’.