tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post1714078287659258380..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: New York City Triathlon: Inspiring Troublewilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-29017384616161859572010-07-20T05:41:45.945-07:002010-07-20T05:41:45.945-07:00Well, we do have some great programs. We are real...Well, we do have some great programs. We are really at the forefront of power soccer, the first sport designed for people in power chairs. (As for its support in schools, there is one club for recreational play at IUPUI and two competitive teams at Ball State. I'm not sure how much, if any, sports funding they receive.)<br /><br />We also have a rehab hospital with a lot of sports programs open to the public. I went waterskiing with them in June.<br /><br />Maybe it's just the 500 Festival Committee with issues. I know the guy who won its wheelchair division. But wheelchair racing is well-established. I think if one doesn't fit in the box with regard to already-established (or clearly mandated) accommodations, that's when the problems start.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12183788294866166602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-92150762872652678912010-07-19T10:55:12.771-07:002010-07-19T10:55:12.771-07:00Emily, I would think (hope) Indiana is a bit more ...Emily, I would think (hope) Indiana is a bit more progressive in terms of disability rights, especially in sports. Many accomplished adaptive athletes call Indiana home and the University of Indiana has big time adaptive sport programs. As for the media, its representation of adaptive athletes is abysmal. The stories are always "inspiring" and adaptive athletes "amazing". All of this is as you know demeaning.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-26308009752306559532010-07-19T07:56:52.990-07:002010-07-19T07:56:52.990-07:00In Indiana, the big racing issue this year was whe...In Indiana, the big racing issue this year was whether a service dog would be permitted to participate in the Mini Marathon. A friend of mine with both visual and hearing disabilities wanted to do the Mini with her service dog, and the 500 Festival Committee refused the request. After the involvement of other advocates -- both within the disability and legal communities -- they offered to let her run at the back of the pack and with a muzzle on her dog, provided she indemnify the Committee of all liability. (This was also after they suggested she hire someone to be tethered to her during the Mini, which was impossible do to disability reasons, but also undignified.) I believe they finally dropped the muzzle and waiver requirements after threat of a suit.<br /><br />To top it all off, the media became involved at the end, praising the Committee for its willingness to allow a service animal to participate -- oh-how-cute stuff -- and threw in the same old inspirational mumbo jumbo.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12183788294866166602noreply@blogger.com