Despite its intended mission to empower and integrate disabled people through sport, I believe that the Special Olympics reinforces neurotypical people’s attitudes of infantilization through its inherent segregation. Additionally, the structure of their events does not allow disabled people to reap the benefits that athletics can provide them.
Amy Kenny, director of Georgetown’s Disability Cultural Center, said the purpose of the event was to showcase top-quality sport and raise awareness for amputee soccer and adaptive sports overall.
Wald’s comments highlight a significant “timely” issue: the perception of adaptive sports as a “service” rather than a competitive pursuit. He notes that Michigan is special because it achieves at the highest level in both spheres. But he selfishly wants this win to draw in more recruits who see Michigan as an athletic destination, not just an academic one.
BU medical student Grace Johnson, a student leader in Boston University’s Disability Advocacy Group — whose mission is to integrate disability justice into BU’s medical curriculum — urged brands like Nike to increase the inclusion of disabled individuals and experts in decision-making processes to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Since leaving CC, Delson has won a silver medal at the 2025 World Para Snowboard Championships and the overall crystal globe during the 2025-2026 FIS Para Snowboard World Cup. This February, she qualified for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano/Cortina.
“We are probably the largest program in the United States. We set up this very inclusive idea regardless of your disability, if you want to do it here at Arizona, we will help you do it,” said the Arizona Adaptive Athletics Director Peter Hughes.
June 9, 2019. Ali Stroker wins Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. An actor, singer, and wheelchair user, Ali Stroker has been a trailblazer for disability representation on the stage. She was the first wheelchair user to graduate from the Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department at New York University. In 2015, she was the first wheelchair user to appear on Broadway, starring as Anna in the musical, Spring Awakening. For her performance as Ado Annie Carnes in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma!, Stroker became the first wheelchair user to win a Tony Award in 2019.
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