Don’t Miss Out on the Inspiration from the Paralympics!

 ”….What I learned was that these athletes were not disabled, they were superabled. The Olympics is where heroes are made. The Paralympics is where heroes come.” Joey Reiman

I LOVE that quote! It says so much about the Paralympics. And it tells us why our big sports inspiration isn’t over for the summer. Don’t miss the London 2012 Paralympic Games August 29-September 9. The Paralympics is an opportunity for us to see beyond the physical disabilities, to see the truly “superabled” individuals.

Even though the post “Paralympians: the Heroes We Need” talks about the Winter Paralympic Games, it has some great information on the Paralympics in general. It also has this simple definition of the Paralympics: “Paralympics are only for elite athletes with physical disabilities.”

Here’s the official website of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. (Check out the Lantern-Making Guide and create your own Light a Lantern event in honor of the Paralympic Torch Relay.) Here’s the official website of the Paralympic Movement. If you’re looking for information on the U.S. Paralympic Team, you’ll find a downloadable Team USA Media Guide at the U.S. Paralympics Facebook page You’ll find information on the U.S. broadcast- and online coverage of the 2012 Paralympic Games here: USOC announces expanded coverage for London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic Preview Inspiration – Meet the Paralympians

Meet the Paralympians: Will Bayley

Meet the Paralympians: Ellie Simmonds

Meet the Paralympians: Jon-Allan Butterworth

Alessandro “Alex” Zanardi (a world-class race car driver until a horrific racing accident in 2001) – Golden dreams

Meet Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Paralympic Swimmer

Meet Matt Stutzman, Archer

Channel 4 Paralympics – Meet the Superhumans (Annotated Version)

Olympic-Inspired Ideas You and Your Child Can Use for the Paralympic Games

You can use many of the same types of activities during the Paralympics with your child as you did during the Olympics (with Paralympic adaptations wherever necessary)

How to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of the Olympics

Let the Olympics Inspire You to Live Your Own Dream

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Math Activities

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Opening Ceremony Activities and Olympics Blog Hop

Montessori-Inspired Olympic Unit

Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board – there are many Paralympic activities linked up, including The Paralympic Blog Hop (which this post is linked to as well)

Check out the Paralympic Sport TV channel on YouTube for inspirational coverage of the Paralympics!

Get Set London 2012 has a page with Paralympic educational activities for kids.

Give yourself and your family the opportunity to be inspired … and to transform your image of individuals with disabilities.

“The Only Disability” Word Art Freebie (without watermark)