Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) organised a Disability Sports Workshop to develop disability sports in Bangladesh on Saturday, 15 December 2018 at BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh with 32 participants from different NGO’s, Social service organisations, Sports Federations, para-athletes and journalists. Dr. Michael Cottingham, Director, Adaptive Athletics, University of Houston, was the resource person of the workshop. Among others, Valarie Ann Taylor, Founder Coordinator of CRP, Mohiuddin Babar, advisor, Lafarge Holcim Limited, Barrister Tapas K Baul, Prosecutor, International Crimes Tribunals,
Following topics have been discussed at the workshop
1. Para Sports and Its challenges in Bangladesh
2. Experience in participating in disability sports
3. Human Rights and Disability sports
4. CSR on disability
5. Disability sports in Bangladesh
6. Disability sports to change the society
After an open discussion session, 32 participants divided into five groups took part in a group work. The groups find out the problems, socio-economic and cultural barriers of the persons with disabilities as well as the suggestions to mitigate the challenges through sports.
Dr. Michael Cottingham says disability sports can be used as an important tool of advocacy and a means of social change.