Disabled athlete activism

Abstract

In this chapter, the practical theological perspectives of Paulo Freire (1993) and Gustavo Gutiérrez (2001) are utilised alongside Michael Oliver’s (1983) social model of disability to highlight the currently low involvement of disabled athletes in disability activism in the UK. Freire’s work on the emancipation of oppressed groups and Gutiérrez’s theology of liberation have not previously been applied to disabled athlete activism. Freire (1944-1986) first published The Pedagogy of the Oppressed in 1968. Freire’s (1993) educational philosophy towards illiterate adults in the Third World can readily be applied to other oppressed groups, such as disabled people. Gutiérrez (born 1928) first published A Theology of Liberation in 1971. Gutiérrez (2001) asserts that true freedom is liberation from every impediment that disempowers vulnerable people. He argues that emancipation is often considered in abstract terms rather than as real freedom. We advocate using an emancipatory theological approach for studying the role of disabled athletes in disability activism in the UK. We end by arguing that since the objective of both the Paralympic Movement and the Disabled People’s Movement are to enhance equality for disabled people, it would be in their shared interests to encourage disabled athletes to be involved in disability activism.