"Outdoor Idaho: Beyond Labels" airs Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 PM on Idaho Public Television.
By Marcia Franklin, Producer, Idaho Public Television
As a writer, words are the main arrows in my quiver. Used with care and creativity, they can infuse a listener with passion, as the golden arrows of the mythical god Cupid have done for lovers since time immemorial. Used incorrectly or overused, though, and they can morph into Cupid's lead-pointed arrows, forcing people to flee.
I was particularly attuned to language while producing and writing this episode of Outdoor Idaho, which highlights the growth in adaptive sports for people with physical challenges. For instance, it's now preferable to use "person-centered" descriptions. Rather than calling someone "a disabled athlete" or "wheelchair-bound," one might describe that individual as "living with a disability" or "using a wheelchair." And the term "handicapped" is rarely used anymore.
Another word of interest: many of us at one time or another probably assumed that the "para" in "Paralympics" was short for "paralyzed." It actually means "alongside of," or "parallel."
I also chose not to use the word “inspiring" to describe the athletes featured in the documentary. Besides being a cliché -- there are so many other terms that can be used -- it’s not how many people with physical challenges see themselves. They don’t want to be labeled “inspiring” or “extraordinary.” They just want to get on with the business of being themselves. The title of the program derives from that same intent: to go "beyond labels" when talking about a person or group.
However, while I made the personal choice not to use the word "inspiring" in my script, I certainly don't object to someone else using it to describe themselves or a person they admire. In that light, I had an intriguing conversation with the accomplished Paralympian Muffy Davis about the subject when I interviewed her for the program. Davis, who lives in Hailey, Idaho, has won seven Paralympic medals, including three gold medals in paracycling. She's a board member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.
"I've kind of come full circle," she told me. "I used to call it the 'I Word.' I'd come home and I'd be like, 'Dad, it was the 'I Word' again!' I hated it. And I was like, 'I'm just living my life. I'm just doing what I want to do.' But what I've come to realize is that's a gift if I can, by living my life, help, motivate and inspire and encourage others to do the best they can do. And what does the world need more than inspiration right now?"
When you meet the athletes who participate in para sports, when you watch them adapt their bodies to the conditions they're in, when you see them push their limits and overcome challenges, you'd be hard-pressed not to be uplifted, impressed, and even exhilarated. And if watching the program inspires you, that's awesome, too. Spending time around my interviewees has certainly motivated me to get out and move more!
I hope you enjoy the stories of Myla Perotto, a talented teenaged rock climber; Ellie Kennedy, the oldest woman in the world competing in USA Paracycling races; Kevin Falk and Tyrel Murphy, two novice downhill skiers; Dani Aravich, a Paralympic Nordic skier; and Sari Lipp and Lance Pounds, whom we filmed taking their first paraglider flight. They are just a few of the many people with disabilities in Idaho who are enjoying all the state has to offer.
If you have a physical challenge or know someone who does, I also hope the documentary opens your eyes to the wide range of opportunities that exist to try different sports and apply for grants. On the website for the show, you'll find links to the organizations we featured, as well as links to many more adaptive groups in Idaho.
One exciting development is the construction of the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse in Boise by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. It will be the home for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Mission 43, and will not only serve Idaho's adaptive recreation community, but also attract para athletes from all over the country.
"It doesn't matter if you're 60, 70, 80, 50, 10 or two," says paracyclist Ellie Kennedy, whose photo is on the cover of this story. "There's a whole group of people out here that can support you in doing whatever you want to do."
Note: All images have alt text embedded for accessibility.
"Outdoor Idaho: Beyond Labels" airs Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 PM on Idaho Public Television