Professional Sports and Disability: Inclusion and Overcoming Barriers

Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis are all Paralympic sports where athletes compete in customized wheelchairs.

There has not yet been a deaf player to play in the NBA.

In Paracycling, athletes with visual impairments compete in tandem with sighted guides, who provide verbal instructions and guidance during the race.

Jason Collins was the first openly gay male athlete to compete in a major professional sports league in North America when he played for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA during the 2013-2014 season.

Wheelchair Racing is a Paralympic sport where athletes with cerebral palsy compete in specially designed racing wheelchairs.

Trischa Zorn was the first female athlete with a disability to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games when she won the gold medal in cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Athletics is a Paralympic sport where athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in a variety of track and field events, including running, jumping, and throwing.

Marla Runyan was the first African-American woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games when she won the gold medal in the 1500-meter run at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.

Handcycling is a Paralympic sport where athletes with spinal cord injuries compete in specially designed handcycles.

Megan Rapinoe was the first openly gay female athlete to compete in a major professional sports league in North America when she played for the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2013.

Goalball is a Paralympic sport where athletes with visual impairments compete in a specially designed goalball court, using a ball with bells inside.

George Eyser was the first athlete with a disability to win a medal at the Olympic Games when he won six medals, including three gold medals, in gymnastics at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.

Swimming is a Paralympic sport where athletes with physical disabilities compete in a variety of swimming events, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

Kye Allums was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a major professional sports league in North America when she played for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2015.

Boccia is a Paralympic sport where athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in a variety of boccia events, using a ball that is rolled towards a target ball.