ABSTRACT
Overcoming negative perceptions of people with a disability is key to improving their
inclusion within the wider community. One way that this has been happening is through
media coverage of disability sport in general and the Paralympic Games in particular. The
Paralympic Games have played an important role in changing attitudes towards and
perceptions of people with disabilities amongst their non-disabled peers. In order to
highlight and explain the role that the Paralympic Games have played in this inclusion
process, this paper will begin by introducing the three main models of disability that
underpin most research carried out in the area of disability studies currently. It will then
look at the implication of these models for the inclusion of people with disabilities within
the wider society. This will be followed by an outline of the genesis and development of
the Paralympic Games before concluding by outlining what impact the Paralympic Games
have had upon promoting the peaceful coexistence of people with disabilities and their
non-disabled peers.
