Beyond The Headlines

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 This project is part of my Ph.D. dissertation and examines how athletes with disabilities are represented in the media. Too often, coverage focuses on disability origin stories while overlooking athletic skill and achievement. In telling these stories, athletes are frequently asked to relive some of the hardest moments of their lives. My research explores both the experiences of athletes during media interactions and the perspectives of sports journalists. The goal is to develop guidelines for trauma-informed storytelling— that respect the complexity of athletes’ lives while celebrating their talent and performance..