That’s not an easy question to answer. Less able than whom? Certainly there are people with very, very severe conditions that have very limited capacity, but there many more people with disabilities that, with appropriate assistive technology and accessible environments, are at least as able, if not more able, than the average person without disabilities. And I happen to know some typically able people that I wonder how they make it through the day. In the post ADA America we live in the largest problem that people with disabilities face is attitudinal. It's the widely-spread perception that people with disabilities are automatically less able than non-disabled people, both physically and intellectually, and that we need help, regardless of what our real ability levels are. It limits our choices and options. We perpetuate the stereotype when we isolate ourselves and don't give others the chance to see who we really are and what we do.     

What does this have to do with sled hockey, you ask?  Every time I hear the ongoing debate, and I call it that charitably, over whether ABs should be allowed to play sled hockey or not, I want to pull my few remaining hairs out. Forget the larger social implications for a minute. From a purely pragmatic perspective, our sport does not have enough players to begin with, and some would further restrict that? I don't get it. 

This could be and should be a tremendous year for development of grass roots and local level programs in the United States. With the national team players out of the pool for all intents and purposes, some programs are struggling to be able to put a team on the ice. This is the time for concerted outreach efforts to bring in additional new players of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. It figures that new players ought to get to play in more games with our national team guys off bringing home another gold medal for us. Instead, so far this season one of the best tournaments in the country has been cancelled. The New England Bruins have opted out of a couple of additional tournaments due to player restrictions.

We really need to be doing everything we can to grow the sport, not squelching growth. Keep it simple. This is just a game that the majority of us are playing for fun and recreation. Isn't it really more important that we're out there playing rather than worrying about how people walk or wheel themselves onto the ice? Some times I think that attempting to regulate the sport before we have enough players to sustain momentum is like rationing gas before we have cars.

And frankly, the argument that non-disabled players have an unfair advantage does not hold water with me.  I’ll tell you what. If you believe that non-disabled sled hockey players have an advantage, I’ll give you 6 months to come up with the best team of non-disabled players you can and I’ll put together my team of double amputees. We’ll have a game and the loser will pay for the winner to take a two week vacation in Hawaii. Whaddya think?  Any takers?    

Let me come back to the larger social issue. I'm not suggesting that every sled hockey player should become a disability advocate, but I do think it would be helpful to look at the issue in another context. I truly believe that breaking down attitudinal barriers is the only way people with disabilities are going to close the participation gaps that exist between people with and without disabilities in the areas of education, employment, access to health care, transportation, and community involvement.  You’ve probably heard the expression that “the best way to get to know someone is to get sweaty with them.” This has several meanings of course, but I find it right on the money in the case of disabled sports and especially sled hockey. When two people work together to achieve a common goal, and they are successful doing it, a bond is created that extends beyond the activity at hand.  Maybe as a result of this success on the ice, they will come to understand that they can work together equally well in the office. We are certainly not going to make new friends and positively influence people by putting up walls. 

I have the pleasure of playing with a few non-disabled men and women on the teams I play for. Some of them are very good players, much better than me. Some are average players, and quite honestly some……..well let’s say they look good.  The point is that we have fun together. That's why I'm involved. It does not make one bit of difference who has a disability and who doesn’t.  We play hard, we hit, we swear at each other, we laugh, we play hockey, and we have fun.  And that’s what it is all about……..particularly at this level............having fun.    

Is there a place for disabled-only competition? Yes, sure, the Paralympics.  They’re used to classification systems. And with youth leagues?  I don’t know about that.  I’m not a parent and admit that I don’t have that personal perspective.  I do appreciate the need to keep young people safe, and certainly there's a difference between a 180 pound 14 year old single amputee, and a 9 year old 80 pound able-bodied kid in sled hockey, but I'm not sure it's the child with a disability that is at the most risk in that scenario. No question that this may not be a fair assessment of what could happen in youth sled hockey. Whatever the case, I do think that by unilaterally excluding non-disabled children from being able to play alongside their friends with disabilities we may be unwittingly seeding the potential for the perception that people with disabilities are less able. And in the long run that’s a far bigger and more pernicious problem.    

That’s my opinion. I’m eager to hear yours. Craig@sledhockey.org. 

Craig Gray is Vice-President of Development for the New England Bruins Sled Hockey Program, President of the Maine Sled Hockey Program, and a Governor of the Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League. He is the principal owner of Gray Management Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in integrating disability and business. A 1998 Paralympian, he is adamant that a level playing field for people with disabilities begins with a handshake and not a hand out.

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