When I found out I made Team Canada’s Paralympic sitting volleyball team, I felt overwhelmed with emotions. As cliched as it sounds, I thought of the younger version of myself who longed for a place in society where I belonged. I felt proud of how far I'd come with my own self-acceptance for not having my lower left leg and using a prosthetic.
In the middle of my excitement, I encountered some comments online that might have been well intended but are — meaning they’re discriminatory against people with disabilities, based on the assumption that nondisabled people are superior. I’ve tried gently addressing these comments in social media posts — and in real life. When I share my excitement about competing in my first Paralympic Games, some people correct me and ask if I mean the Olympics.
Some people confuse the Paralympics with the Special Olympics, which are for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. But it gives me the chance to explain the differences between the games. Being a Paralympian isn’t less impressive.
The para in Paralympics doesn’t mean paraplegic like many believe. The para means parallel. They run parallel to the Olympic games.
The Paralympic Games might include different events, but both showcase elite athletes coming together to represent their home country in sports. Paralympians have physical disabilities, yet we train like Olympic athletes and compete at the same high levels. My team is in the gym three times a week, has condi.