ConclusionThis paper demonstrates t

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates the key role that sport has played in the rehabilitation process following a critical life-changing event for one Paralympian athlete. Persons with disabilities, like all others, have needs, aspirations and goals, among which is the desire to engage in physical activity and sport.21 However, it is well documented that disabled people are more likely to lead sedentary lives than able-bodied persons and participate in sport significantly less than their non-disabled peers.15 With the numerous reasons for limited uptake of physical activity within disabled groups, including limited awareness of the benefits of physical activity, constraints or barriers blocking participation and limited access to opportunity for engagement in sport and physical activity, there is a greater need to provide models of positive experience to demonstrate the important role that sport and physical activity can play for people living with disabilities.12–22

The story of Lucy Shuker demonstrates that experiences of people with disabilities do not always involve passivity and victimisation but rather resistance and empowerment.19 Sport has the capacity to enhance a person’s sense of self and can therefore have a fundamental impact on individual quality of life.17 Swain and French1 believe that the tragedy model of disability has been


March 2012 Vol 132 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 73


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Affirmation through disability: One athlete’s personal journey to the London Paralympic Games



dominant, prevalent and infused throughout media representations, language, cultural beliefs, research policy and professional practice. Disability is seen in terms of deficit and loss within the ‘traditional’ discourse where the focus is the physical body and disability is defined by tasks an individual can no longer perform. Disability is then linked with limitations, problems and difficulties not usually experienced by an able-bodied person. This perpetuates the negative view that disabled people are in some way ‘less than’ other people.33
Through challenging this dominant viewpoint this personal narrative instead



shares the lived experience of an ‘ordi-nary’ person who has made the most of an extraordinary situation. This paper demonstrates that in contrast with typical discourse in disability studies, becoming disabled or living with a disability need not be a tragedy but may on the contrary enhance life or provide a lifestyle of equal satisfaction and worth. This paper there-fore makes an important contribution to the literature on disability, and impor-tantly, it highlights the crucial role of sport and physical activity in re-establishing a life following disablement.

The limitation of working with a sample of one is acknowledged within this



research account; however, it is envisaged that although the life story or narrative is individual and unique there will be transferrable elements from this account to those who have received a similar injury and may provide hope and inspiration to others who are living with disability or have experienced SCI. By highlighting the achievements of one athlete this narrative may help to undo the negative stereotypes around disability. In Lucy’s words: ‘If someone can use my story and gain benefit from it then it is worth telling.’