By Professor Peter Jones MBE: Celebrating Sporting Prowess While Overlooking Everyday Potential: The Paralympic Paradox.
As a country, we recognise and celebrate excellence in sporting achievements and the Paralympics is no exception. The Paralympic Games stand as a testament to human resilience, skill and determination in international sports. Every four years, athletes with disabilities captivate global audiences, breaking records and shattering stereotypes. The success of these games is best exemplified by the remarkable achievements of the Great Britain Paralympic team, which is consistently ranked among the top nations in the medal table.
The Paralympic movement has made remarkable strides in recent years, with the performances of disabled athletes recognised for their dedication, and fortitude not just in overcoming disability but also in achieving incredible performance levels in their chosen sports. This has led to a much higher profile for disabled athletes, medal successes and the media spotlight on those achievements. Sponsorship deals through corporate businesses have embraced the Paralympic movement and political recognition through those successes is now celebrated at the highest levels of government.
These developments, highlighted by the achievements of the British Paralympic team, suggest a seismic shift in societal attitudes towards disability, painting a picture of progress and inclusion. However, step away from the atmosphere of the Paralympic Games, and a very different picture emerges:
Despite the success of British Paralympians, the UK still faces significant employment challenges for people with disabilities. As of 2021, the employment rate for disabled people was 52.7%, compared to 81% for non-disabled people – a disability employment gap of 28.4 percentage points. Why does that disability employment gap exist, and why do so many individuals with disabilities report facing bias trying to secure employment?
The juxtaposition of Paralympic glory and these employment struggles, reveals a complex societal contradiction. Our admiration for Paralympian’s rarely translates into concrete actions to improve employment prospects for people with disabilities. The Paralympics showcase the immense capabilities of individuals with disabilities, yet many employers remain sceptical about their potential contributions to the workforce.
The intense focus on disability during the Paralympic period contrasts sharply with the neglect and invisibility often experienced by people with disabilities in their day-to-day lives. People with disabilities can offer a very wide range of professional skills and contributions, they are capable and willing to make a real contribution to any workforce. They need to be given the same chances as everyone else. The key is to focus on ‘ability’ rather than ‘disability’.
The number of people with disabilities, according to the ONS, was 10.4 million in 2021, a slight decrease from the preceding years. Some, but not all, are also part of that disability employment gap, wanting to work but not finding the opportunities to do so.
The Paralympic Games offer a powerful vision of what’s possible when society focuses on ability rather than disability. However, the true measure of progress lies not in how we celebrate athletes every four years, but in how we integrate, employ, and empower people with disabilities every single day.
As you read this, I would ask you to reflect on what you are doing to support people with disabilities in employment. This article is not going to change the world, but if it just gets you, the reader, to think a little about how you and your organisation can support people with disabilities, it will have achieved its aim.
Note: I am Chair of Crumbs, a disability charity that provides hospitality and catering training for adults with learning and other mental disabilities. It is also a recognised Disability Confident Leader that can provide advice and guidance to employers. For further information visit here, or send an email to contact info@crumbs.org.uk.
The Accessible Hospitality Alliance would like to thank Professor Peter Jones MBE for his insightful contributions to our News Section.
