10/3/19

Period 3B
Unified Discord
“So you think you’re better than them?” he accused me.
“No?” I thought. What kind of sick person puts themself above children with disabilities.
I could hear the rubber basketballs bouncing in the gym. The feeling of disgust encapsulated my
whole body. I couldn’t help but wonder how this situation got turned on me so quickly, I was just
trying to stand up for myself and my teammates. There was no point in trying anymore,
everything I said was quickly disregarded. I turned to leave, I couldn’t stand it anymore. As I
walked through the double doors back into the gym the words hit the back of my head,
“It’s probably best for all of us if you don’t come back”.
Walking into my first unified basketball practice I was ecstatic. An all inclusive sports
team for students with and without disabilities was like something out of a fairytale. I never even
knew something like it existed until I began volunteering in the life skills class at school.
Everyone raved about unified basketball and what a high energy and positive environment it
was. The gym was full of familiar faces, I saw classmates functioning in ways I never knew they
were capable of.
The practices were easy, but I knew they weren’t for me. The sport was created as an
opportunity for my teammates with cognitive or physical disabilities to challenge themselves and
gain new skills, the rest of us were there to mediate and support. Game day came and we got on
the bus to our competition, hearts racing and music blasting.
The game began and the starting five took the court. Three “athletes” and two “partners”
were on the court at a time. As the game neared completion, I became permeated with concern.
The playing time was blatantly uneven for the athletes with disabilities. I chose to ignore it
considering it was the first unified game, However more games passed and I saw the same
inequality continues, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. A few other teammates and I
discussed how uncomfortable we were playing in these conditions. I decided it was time to
confront the coaches.
Politely I asked the coaches to talk in the hall, at this point my frustration was burning me
alive. I explained to them my frustrations while also relaying feedback I had gotten from other
teammates.
“Well if they’re so bothered by it, then why don’t they come talk to us themselves? You
think you’re better than them?” my coach questioned me. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“No,” I explained, “I am trying to advocate for the people on this team that cannot
advocate for themselves,”this was a line I practiced in my head many times. I continued my
argument despite the coaches immediately shutting down everything I said. I was done arguing
with them, my point had been made. As I turned to exit back into the gym I heard the sentence he
snapped, excusing me from the team for good.
 At first this experience was devastating, I could no longer take part in the activity I held
so much love for. In spite of this being an extremely frustrating and difficult experience for me, it
was one of the only times I can ever think of standing up for myself, as well as another group of
individuals, against my superior because I felt so passionate about their wrong doing. From this
experience I have gained a new sense of empowerment and confidence in my abilities. I have
learned that I am capable of being an advocate and this is something I will embrace indefinitely.