Equality

What are all these sentences that wheelchair users listen continuosly every single day? "You cannot do it! There are so many hills and cobblestones at this place and you won´t be able to move around! ... Don´t you think is more convenient that everyone explore their envioment, define his/her own limits and not been isolated insided a defined social group?

As persons with disabilities 

What right do I have to limit the people around me?

 It´s time to talk now about the other side! About these people who are acting for being different from the rest of the society...  for better or worse. Here some examples: "Because I am in a wheelchair, I have not to wait on line!", "Because I am in a wheelchair, society must give me this and this and... !", "I consider myself sick and less than other citizens around me!" What about these people who can work and comply with a pension. It´s right to say that work has intrinsic values and those are healthy and also in countries with big unemployment rates, alcohol and antidepressants consumption is bigger.

My way of thinking and acting always seeks equality. Why I must say I am different than long distance runners? Because of a wheelchair? Don´t We train about the same? No more, no less! Why We must use two different names for talking about the Olympic Games? Why using Paralympic Games? Is this a new invention of the Greek history event created almost 2700 years ago? What about those terms created from nowhere and which are developing an exclusive phenomen like para-cyclists, para-triathletes, "para-funambulist"? I always wanted to be recognized as an athlete, Olympian, Physiologist,... just exactly the same as everyone else!!! Are We looking for equality or just looking for distinction, victimization or compassion?

 

Inclusive Sports workshops, celebrated last month in the elementary school of my hometown, to sensitize kids with the condition of persons with different abilities!!!

Inclusive Sports workshops, celebrated last month in the elementary school of my hometown, to sensitize kids with the condition of persons with different abilities!!!

 What about attending to a Congress where someone known as the "inclusive sport guru" is using continuously during his intervention exclusive terms as disabilities, handicap,...

Finally and after a reflection you write a few lines and send them to all these "guru´s researchers" and finally, everything finish with a silence guru.

Anyways equality is the essence of life and if you perceive that you´re contributing a bit with all what is around you, that´s the real engine which move us.

Equality only begin with the  appropriate use of terminology (using terms as disabilities, handicap, disabled,... We are not going on the right direction!), then We must adapt public buildings to offer public services to everyone... Adapting educational programs to all students and the key of an inclusive society is to adapt jobs and bringing labor opportunities to all citizens. A pension has not the social impact or potential as a job.

Normalize is the key!!! Why public restrooms for mobility impaired people and non-mobility impaired? Why not constructing restrooms for everyone?

 

In my hometown on December 19Th, We organize a "Goalball" tournament for all population, Why only for visual impaired people?

At the end, if I do a little introspection and I try to find the reason for why I make thousands of miles training each year or I try to find new researching models of human being biological adaptation to training and living under extreme conditions, maybe I do not find any other reason than show to society that what they define as impossible, unrealistic or abnormal ends up being something simple, normal and possible.

Mutai, Kimetto and myself. Just three marathon runners.

 

This article is dedicated to all these people who do not believe in their human potential.

Santiago Sanz

Marathon athlete, Exercise Physiologist and a huge dreamer.

@santirun