What is YOUR #UnofficialDiscipline?
Living with a disability takes many shapes and forms. While we adapt to society as best we can, society does not always adapt to us. Every day, people with physical and non-physical disabilities encounter numerous accessibility barriers and limitations that significantly impact their ability to navigate daily life with ease and independence.
The Paralympics, a global stage for athletes with disabilities, is a powerful testament to their incredible athleticism, with athletes competing in 23 official disciplines. Supported by the International Paralympic Committee, Ottobock introduces a symbolic 24th discipline: the Unofficial Discipline. This metaphorical discipline represents the daily challenges that people with disabilities face—often invisible to non-disabled people. It serves as a reminder that even Paralympian athletes, often labeled as superhuman, encounter the same everyday hurdles as the 1.8 billion disabled people worldwide.
During the Paralympics, Ottobock will place posters, billboards, and video projections around tourist hotspots in Paris to highlight inaccessible places such as stairs, metro stations, and attractions. It is time for us to unite, start conversations, and make our voices heard—showcasing to the world how challenging it is for people with disabilities to navigate cities and feel included in accessing events like the Paralympic Games! These daily barriers encompass difficulties in travel, social activities, entertainment, and daily living. While there are too many accessibility issues to list comprehensively, common problems include airlines and public transport, broken escalators or elevators, inadequate disabled access or facilities, and a general lack of venue accessibility.
Ottobock ambassadors share their Unofficial Discipline, and we want to hear YOURS!
Samantha is a Paralympian world champion wheelchair racer and a BBC TV presenter. Her life changed drastically when she was crushed by snow and ice that fell from the roof of her family home. She never thought she would be mobile again and was happy to regain her life as an active wheelchair user, achieving many outstanding life goals, including becoming the fastest-ever female British wheelchair racer. Although she is fast on the racing track, she finds traveling on public transport her 'Unofficial Discipline': "Trains are always the hardest. I can't get off without someone's assistance and must rely on them to remember to bring the ramp and help me on and off. I'm always afraid I'll be forgotten and end up miles away from where I'm supposed to be."
Richard is a fashion influencer passionate about sneakers and promoting inclusivity in brands for people with disabilities. He likes to be bold and daring, emphasizing his prosthesis with his unique style and inspiring others to embrace their disability and individuality. Although he is adventurous with fashion, he finds navigating city life to be his 'Unofficial Discipline': "Accessibility in cities is complicated due to the lack of elevators in metro stations, making it difficult to use the stairs and get where you need to go. Many major stations don't have elevators, which is frustrating and impacts my ability to attend events and participate in or watch sports. I hope this changes with increasing awareness and advocacy efforts."
Zainab Al Eqabi is an inspiring Iraqi influencer, para-athlete, and TV presenter with a disability in the Middle East. Despite her impressive achievements, people often make assumptions about what she can or cannot do, which has become her personal 'Unofficial Discipline': "Everyone always says it is the way that it is, it is the way it has always been, and we can't do anything, but it shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't have to research every hotel to see if they are accessible. It's 2024, and accessibility should already be here."
Ezra Frech is a Paralympic athlete who competes internationally in high jump, long jump, and sprinting events. He is also a motivational speaker and a dedicated advocate for disability rights, inspiring others with disabilities to live their best lives. Despite his long history in sports, Ezra still faces his own 'Unofficial Discipline': "Using bathrooms is a significant barrier for me. Accessing showers and bathtubs without my prosthesis requires me to crawl or hop unaided to get in or out, increasing my risk of slipping and falling."
The magnitude of these obstacles shows that our society is still far from achieving total inclusivity for people with disabilities. However, this is our chance to advocate for societal transformation through our united global voices. By raising awareness and bringing these issues to the attention of world leaders, now is the time to build a more inclusive society worldwide. Your voice matters in this global movement for change.
What can YOU do?
Get involved and share your Unofficial Discipline on Instagram and TikTok. Using the hashtag #UnofficialDiscipline - uniting our voices via social media, we will raise awareness and show the world the real, everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Enter our raffle to win a Paris 2024 - Paralympic Games Goodiebag from Ottobock. Share your #UnofficialDiscipline below this article in the comments or send us a screenshot of your post on Instagram or TikTok (only valid for Movao members inside the EU).
It's a chance to make your voice heard and contribute to a more inclusive society.
