This course explores how media narratives shape public perceptions of Paralympic athletes and disability. By analysing recurring stereotypes—such as the “supercrip” and “pity” frames—and comparing them with athletes’ own perspectives, it reveals the gap between representation and reality. Drawing from real interviews, media theory, and journalistic practices, the course supports more respectful, accurate, and empowering portrayals of disabled athletes.
Developed as an outcome of the PRIN 2022 PNRR project “dis-ABILITY! – Challenging the stigma of disability by altering the media representation of the Paralympic Games”, this MOOC is conceived as a social legacy: an open, co-created resource built with Paralympic athletes, not just about them.
The Reason: Why This Course Exists
People with disabilities remain significantly under-represented in the media. When they do appear, their stories are frequently told through a narrow lens that fails to capture the complexity of their lives as athletes and citizens.
The Paralympic Games offer a rare global stage for visibility, yet this opportunity is not always used to promote fair, accurate, and inclusive representations. This MOOC serves as a direct response to that disconnect. It is designed to move beyond traditional academic analysis and address the gap between how athletes are portrayed and who they actually are.
The Methodology: A Social Legacy Project
This MOOC is the result of a collaborative PRIN-PNRR grant carried out by two Research Units. Led by Principal Investigator Prof. Sakis Pappous (University of Bologna) and Co-Principal Investigator Prof. Paolo Diana (University of Salerno), the project is conceived as a social legacy project with a clear mission: to give voice to the protagonists of the movement.
To create this content, the research teams engaged in a deep co-creation process, interviewing a wide range of Italian elite Paralympic athletes. They were asked directly to evaluate their current media representation—what they appreciate, what they feel is missing, and how they wish to be portrayed.
The insights you will find in this course therefore reflect the lived experience of those who navigate the sports media landscape every day. It is a project built with them, not merely about them.
The Goal: Shaping a New Narrative
The primary goal of this MOOC is to empower journalists, media professionals, students, and members of the disability community to tell different, more authentic stories.
By combining the research findings from the University of Bologna and the University of Salerno with the direct lived experiences of Paralympic athletes, the course provides practical tools to:
- Identify and look beyond recurring media tropes;
- Adopt more inclusive and accurate narrative frameworks;
- Foster lasting cultural change in how Paralympic sport is represented.
Designed as an open, flexible, and renewable resource, this course invites you to listen to these voices and become an active participant in changing the story.