Commonwealth Sport’s Post

As the President of #RCSN, I am privileged to witness firsthand the transformative power of sports in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Our journey is aligned with #SaudiVision2030, which aims to foster inclusivity, diversity, and excellence in every sector, including sports. We believe sports build confidence and community. With strategic partnerships and significant financial support, we are breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all athletes. #SaudiArabia’s $1.3 billion investment in supporting people with disabilities underscores our commitment to empowerment. These resources provide assistive devices, training programs, and financial support, helping over 400,000 individuals. With collective effort and unwavering commitment, we can achieve great things for athletes with disabilities. The future is promising, and together, we can make a significant impact. #InclusiveSports #Empowerment #Leadership #DisabilityInclusion

Inclusivity is fundamental to our business. From beginning to end, accessibility is at the forefront of our projects. Our Sydney team were thrilled to hear from Nick Morris, who is not only a gold medal Paralympian, but also director of Morris Goding Accessibility Consulting (MGAC - A Jensen Hughes Company). Nick was joined by fellow MGAC Paralympian (and multi-gold medallist) Evan O'Hanlon OAM. They shared their personal stories and spoke about universal design and accessibility compliance with Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act. Key takeaways included: 💡Disability is a mismatch between the needs and preferences of people and an environment. Accessibility is about making sure an environment can accommodate and support everyone’s diverse needs.  💡We need to be mindful of language. Use ‘accessibility needs’ not ‘disability access’. Keep up to date with terminology and don’t be afraid to ask questions,  💡Accessibility access can’t just be a feature; it must be standard. We need to integrate inclusive design principles at the planning phase. At TSA, we want our projects to have positive community impacts for generations to come – inclusive and accessible design is central to this goal. Thank you to Nick Morris and Evan O’Hanlon for sharing your invaluable experiences and insights with our team. #TeamTSA #MGAC #PositiveImpact #TransformativeImpact #Inclusivity #AccessibilityNeeds #UniversalDesign #AccessibleDesign 

"Nothing about us, without us." 💬 Within the framework of the 2024 European Week of Sport 🏋🏽♀️, ENGSO EWS Committee organised an online seminar, entitled “Transforming Sports through Accessibility”; 🔹to present the organisation’s newly published guidelines for inclusive events, 🔸and discuss accessibility of sport for people with disability, LGBTQI+ community and women. Re-watch the seminar 📺️ https://lnkd.in/d5csM3WC #StandUp4Equality

I am proud to be a disabled person. The Paralympic Games have embraced and celebrated the uniqueness and individuality of athletes who happen to be disabled. The past 12 days have opened up conversations about disability and disabled people. We can’t stop here. We must continue to have honest and open conversations and think differently about disability. Let’s keep the conversation going and change the narrative about disability. #paralympicgames #disabledandproud #wearealldisabled #waad #inclusion Channel 4

Check this out: the amazing Discussion Questions document Disability:IN provides, to help people become more aware of disability access and inclusion. Here's one of the questions: 1.   After watching this event, what is one action you feel empowered to take to support disability inclusion in the workplace? #disabilityawareness #disabilityinclusion #disabilityaccommodations #disabilitysupport

Today is the last day of Disability Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating those with disabilities, and highlighting their creativity, resilience and achievements. The Opening Ceremony of the #Olympics in Paris just a few days ago showcased excellent examples of what people living with disabilities are capable of. How wonderful it was to see: ► Paralympians Alexis Hanquinquant, Nantenin Keïta and Marie-Amélie Le Fur, all carrying the Olympic torch; and (of course) ► the incredible Celine Dion, demonstrating superb resilience and courage in not letting her chronic affliction of Stiff Person Syndrome stop her from delivering a stunning rendition of Edith Piaf’s ‘Hymne à l'Amour’, to bring the ceremony to a perfect close. These are all powerful reminders that people who are differently abled are disabled by societal barriers and perceptions, rather than by their own impairment or difference. EVERY point of difference carries value and merits inclusion. Let us all embrace that principle, at work and everywhere else – rather than allowing ourselves to fall victim to the curse of homogeneity and required assimilation that inevitably results when societal or organisational constructs allow exclusion to prevail. #disability #DisabilityPrideMonth #inclusion #InclusionMatters #DEI #DEIB The Inclusion Imperative

***New Blog Article - More Than Medals: How we can break down barriers for people with disabilities in sports*** With the Paris Paralympics just around the corner, we thought we would take a look into the history of the games and the current state of inclusion in sports 🏅. You can read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gCTYBFTN #ndis #ndisbundoora #ndisdisabilitysupport #paralympics #paris2024 #inclusioninsport #paralympics2024 #disabilityinsport #ndisblog #disabilityhousing #helpathandsupport

***New Blog Article - More Than Medals: How we can break down barriers for people with disabilities in sports*** With the Paris Paralympics just around the corner, we thought we would take a look into the history of the games and the current state of inclusion in sports 🏅. You can read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gCTYBFTN #ndis #ndisbundoora #ndisdisabilitysupport #paralympics #paris2024 #inclusioninsport #paralympics2024 #disabilityinsport #ndisblog #disabilityhousing #helpathandsupport

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I reflect on how far we’ve come and the road ahead in building a truly inclusive and sustainable future. This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” resonates deeply with my personal journey as I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of what can be achieved when we amplify the leadership capabilities of people with disabilities, both in the sporting and business arena's. Leadership isn’t just about having a seat at the table; it’s about shaping the table itself to ensure no one is left behind. It’s why I’m so passionate about advocating for a universal design approach for Brisbane 2032 infrastructure and creating equitable pathways in sport and employment. As we celebrate this day, I encourage us all to take action: - Promote leadership: Create spaces where persons with disabilities can lead and thrive. - Foster inclusion: Make accessibility and equity a priority in every aspect of life. - Encourage participation: Include diverse voices in decision-making at all levels. - Raise awareness: Share stories and achievements to shift perspectives and break barriers. While not exhaustive, the thought starters above are not hard to implement. Who's leadership capabilities can you amplify today? #IDPD2024 #DisabilityLeadership #InclusionMatters #DisabilityDay Create Advisory Paralympics Australia

Are we ready? The TV coverage of the Paralympic Games is fantastic—showcasing incredible talent and breaking down barriers. But after the Games end, we need to ask: is society truly ready to support people with disabilities who want to get involved in these sports? After the London Games, there was a spike in interest in para sports, but we weren’t prepared. We lacked accessible facilities, trained coaches, inclusive teams, and genuine opportunities for people with disabilities to participate. To change this, we must take a holistic and diverse approach. This is where my proposed Diverse Model of Disability can make a difference. Unlike traditional models, the Diverse Model expands on the Social Model of Disability, recognising the wide variety of needs and experiences within the disabled community. It emphasises the importance of creating systems and environments that are inclusive from the ground up—whether it’s in sports, education, or beyond and to this we need to view disability holistically. If you're in a position of power or policy-making, are you thinking proactively or reactively? We need to ensure that the opportunities we offer are accessible to all, not just a select few. It’s time to build a future where inclusion isn’t just a moment in the spotlight but a permanent reality. The true test of inclusion happens long after the spotlight fades. Let’s make sure we’re ready!! #Inclusion #Paralympics #Accessibility #PolicyChange #InclusiveSport #DiverseModelofDisability #HolisticApproach https://lnkd.in/eAJpKT9e