Special Olympics Pakistan: using a segregated space to transition to independence in mainstream settings

Abstract

The present study sought to understand the experiences of five Special Olympics Pakistan athletes and their guardians. Together, we explored the role of the Special Olympics Pakistan in their lives and how they envision expanding the work of the organization to promote independent living among Pakistani Special Olympics athletes. The study was guided by a participatory approach using PhotoVoice where participants were involved in all phases of the research process. Through thematic analysis, we present the primary theme of Using Special Olympics Pakistan to Further the Intellectual Disability Movement, which focuses on how Special Olympics Pakistan has facilitated the development of sense of community, actions toward independence and goals for expanding the organization’s work. We discuss implications for research and practice.

Points of interest

• Pakistani Special Olympics athletes and their guardians were involved in all parts of this study which focused on gathering information through group meetings.

• Pakistani Special Olympics athletes and guardians reported that the Special Olympics Pakistan helped them make friends, feel a part of a community, and learn how to be more independent.

• This study found that Special Olympics Pakistan has taught athletes skills to help them be a part of mainstream society such as finding jobs.

• Guardians reported that the Special Olympics helped them understand disability issues and find ways to work together to help improve the lives of people with intellectual disability.

• This study is important because it provides information on disability issues in Pakistan from people with intellectual disabilities and describes how Special Olympics Pakistan is helping people with intellectual disability be a part of mainstream society.

Keywords:

• Intellectual disability
• Pakistan
• safe space
• sense of community
• special Olympics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This study was funded by the Society for Community Research and Action’s Mini Grant (USA) and Zayed University’s Start Up Grant (UAE).