To mark the United Nations Day of Persons with Disabilities, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and its development arm the Agitos Foundation are launching I’mPOSSIBLE, a global education program that aims to promote social inclusion by raising awareness of the Paralympic Movement.
Implementation of the I’mPossible program in Japan.
Image courtesy of the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center.
The program offers teaching resources, lessons plans, worksheets, and inspirational videos to teachers and students. The resources consist of 15 units with lesson plans for children 6-8 years old and 9-12 years old. They feature information on Para sports and the abilities and achievements of Para athletes. Samples can be downloaded at www.paralympic.org/imPOSSIBLE.
Andrew Parsons, IPC president, said: “We are delighted that youngsters around the globe will learn more about the wonders of the Paralympic Movement. Through engaging, educational activities, I’mPOSSIBLE will help continue changing society’s perceptions toward people with impairment across the globe and will support national Paralympic committees in their mission to promote the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration, and equality.”
Entities working to promote inclusion through sports are encouraged to contact the Agitos Foundation at i-am-possible@agitosfoundation.org for more information about the program.
I’mPOSSIBLE’s name is inspired by an iconic moment from the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
During the closing ceremony, the word “impossible” appeared floating from the stadium roof. A wheelchair user then appeared, faced with the challenge of climbing a long rope to reach the top of the lettering. When he got there, he became a flying apostrophe between the letters “I” and “m” in “Impossible,” showing the world that people can achieve anything.