International Day of Persons with Disabilities Presentation for ASICS

Last month, a senior HR advisor at ASICS reached out to me about speaking for their International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration on inclusion and accessibility in the running and fitness industry. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to share my work with their global staff.

The “expertise” that I’ve acquired over the last 12 years has predominantly revolved around listening and learning; and this is one of the main points that I want to communicate. Promoting inclusion in endurance sports, fitness, or any industry or environment, requires listening to the lived experiences of those with disabilities and developing solutions to support their needs. That’s my goal with every program and project I create.

I know that I want to preface my speech with the fact that I don’t intend to speak on behalf of those with disabilities; the same mantra that I start every podcast episode with. My role is to be an advocate and educator, not an authority on inclusive and adaptive fitness. It's to synthesize a lot of information and experience, disseminating it in a way that is concise and actionable.

December 3rd is the day that we recognize International Day of Persons with Disabilities but my commitment to the mission is year-round. The day was first recognized by the United Nations in 1992 to celebrate disability and encourage understanding, optimism, and action. “It is owned by everyone: people, organizations, agencies, charities, places of learning – all of whom have a vital role to play in identifying and addressing discrimination, marginalization, exclusion and inaccessibility that many people living with disabilities face.”

While part of me initially felt like it wasn’t my place to deliver a presentation to celebrate this day, I do believe that I’m part of the ‘people, organizations, and agencies’ that are identifying and addressing these barriers to health and fitness that many individuals with disabilities face. Inclusion is not just about meeting accessibility guidelines, but creating a culture that values each person’s ability. This is what we hope to articulate in the AdaptX course.

Although it will be my presentation, the substance of my speech comes from the hundreds of lessons that every client, colleague, and conversation has taught me. I hope that I’m able to do it justice.

Thanks, ASICS Corporation for supporting my mission of making endurance sports accessible. 



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