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.

摘要

本研究旨在了解五名巴基斯坦特奥会运动员及其监护人的经历。我们一起探讨了巴基斯坦特奥会在他们生活中的作用，以及他们如何设想扩大该组织的工作，以促进巴基斯坦特奥会运动员的独立生活。该研究以使用 PhotoVoice 的参与式方法为指导，参与者参与了研究过程的所有阶段。通过主题分析，我们提出了利用巴基斯坦特奥会促进智力残疾运动的主要主题，该主题侧重于巴基斯坦特奥会如何促进社区意识的发展、独立行动和扩大组织工作的目标。我们讨论对研究和实践的影响。

• 兴趣点

• 巴基斯坦特奥会运动员及其监护人参与了这项研究的所有部分，重点是通过小组会议收集信息。

• 巴基斯坦特奥会运动员和监护人报告说，巴基斯坦特奥会帮助他们结交朋友，感受社区的一部分，并学习如何更加独立。

• 这项研究发现，巴基斯坦特奥会教会了运动员技能，以帮助他们成为主流社会的一部分，例如找工作。

• 监护人报告说，特奥会帮助他们了解残疾问题，并找到共同努力帮助改善智障人士生活的方法。

• 这项研究很重要，因为它从智障人士那里提供了有关巴基斯坦残疾问题的信息，并描述了巴基斯坦特奥会如何帮助智障人士成为主流社会的一部分。