The Glory and Joy of the Games
By: Maisie O'Brien
American hockey fans have reason to celebrate this month as three US hockey teams skated to victory at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy. On Sunday, the US men's Paralympic ice hockey team defeated Canada, joining the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams as gold medalists.
Held shortly after the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games feature elite athletes with physical or visual impairments who compete in sports such as para alpine skiing, para snowboarding, and wheelchair curling.
Teaching Professor and Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department Jess Harney was watching the Paralympic Games and cheering on the athletes she has worked with as a volunteer classifier. Since 2001, Harney has traveled domestically and internationally to assess whether athletes' impairments meet the minimum eligibility standards to compete in the Games.
“The best part of my involvement with the Paralympic Games is working one-on-one with the athletes,” Harney says. “You become invested in their personal stories, and they’re trusting you to make a decision that determines their fate as an athlete. It’s something that I take very seriously. There’s so much glory and joy for Paralympians who go from the classification assessment to competition, and it's awesome to be a part of that.”
The Paralympics are a powerful source of inspiration not only for the competitors but also for anyone living with a disability. As Harney reflects: “For those living with a disability and watching the Games on TV at home, it can be life-changing to think, ‘Hey, I can do that too!’ Or for a parent watching to think, ‘My child could get involved in this.’ The Paralympic Games are advancing empowerment, inclusivity, and equity in a really impactful way.”
The Paralympic Games are just one example of Harney’s connection to adaptive sports—defined as competitive or recreational sports modified for people with disabilities. As a child, her family became involved in adaptive skiing so that her younger sister, who has a cognitive disability, could ski with the help of modifications.
Harney is currently serving as the president of New England Disabled Sports (NEDS), a nonprofit providing access to recreation and sports to individuals living with a physical or cognitive disability. NEDS offers free and low-cost skiing, snowboarding, and summer programming at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.
Harney’s father founded NEDS in the late 1980s to share the joy of adaptive skiing with other families. Harney volunteered as an adaptive skiing coach for years before joining the board a decade ago. “I love seeing athletes discover a new sport,” she says. “Skiing down a mountain is a beautiful, majestic experience, and we’re building community at the same time. We offer a space for parents to connect, share resources, and expand their support system. The impact of NEDS is never-ending.”
Each year, Harney is joined at NEDS by other Tufts OT faculty, students, and alumni who volunteer as coaches and program leaders.
The Tufts OT Department also collaborates with several other adaptive sports organizations, including Adaptive Sports New England, a nonprofit that increases sports participation among youth and adults with visual or mobility impairments. Tufts partners with the organization to host an annual "Parasports Day," bringing local youth and their families together to try new equipment and explore a variety of adaptive sports.
“Sports are just another example of how you can find OTs making a difference everywhere,” Harney says. “There are so many opportunities for us to lead and innovate in any type of adaptive sport or recreational activity.”
Photo Description: Jess Harney (far right) poses with Tufts OT alums volunteering at New England Disabled Sports. Photo Credit: Jill Rocca.