Seeing Without Sight

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 Ever wonder about the amazing teamwork behind visually impaired athletes in high-performance sports? This research dives into the unique bond between these athletes and their sighted guides.

What you need to know:

Transforming identity: The athlete-guide partnership helps visually impaired athletes reach full participation in sport,  challenging stigmas and limitations they might experience outside of sport. 

Finding new meaning: For athletes, Paralympic sport can become a powerful tool for social change, inspiring communities and redefining excellence beyond just individual achievement. Guides, many of whom previously competed solo, find deeper meaning in sport by helping another athlete achieve their dreams. 

Navigating sport systems built for one: High-performance sport systems are often designed for individual, non-disabled athletes, leaving pairs with little specialized support to meet their unique needs. Participants in the study expressed some frustrations  such as financial instability from double expenses, unacknowledged contributions from guides, and limited say in who partners work with, despite trust being crucial.

Expanding Empathy: Guides reported that working closely with visually impaired athletes dramatically reshaped their initial assumptions about disability, seeing differences as avenues for achievement rather than limitations.

Advocating for systemic change: To truly foster inclusivity, the study calls for formalizing the guide's role within teams, including fair contracts and recognition. It also highlights the need to acknowledge the diverse needs of all disabled athletes and boost diversity in leadership, making sport systems more flexible and welcoming for everyone