94. Fighting Injustice with Paralympic Skier Staci Mannella

94. Fighting Injustice with Paralympic Skier Staci Mannella

Introducing Staci Mannella

Today I’m talking to Paralympic Skier Staci Mannella about fighting injustice.

Her Career Journey

Staci has been legally blind her entire life and began skiing with a guide at age 4. While recreational at first, she ultimately took skiing as far it would go, competing at the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Games. Her academic accomplishments are equally impressive, however. She majored in anthropology at Dartmouth, where she brought a lawsuit against the school for failing to provide adequate accommodations, paving the way for future Dartmouth students with disabilities. Staci went on to earn an MS in kinesiology and exercise science from the University of British Columbia. She’s currently a PhD student at Ball State University studying counseling psychology.

Fighting Injustice

When Staci took on the challenges of a legal battle, she knew she was doing this for the entire disabled community, not just herself. Her priority was institutional change. This parallels her chosen field within psychology, as she works to expand the body of work specifically addressing the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities. Always one to celebrate the team behind the team, Staci is fighting injustice and giving back to that team by addressing the challenges that add up to barriers for people with disabilities.

Inside this episode:

  • Staci was lucky to try many different sports as a child and began skiing recreationally with a guide at age 4. Her parents were excited that she had found a sport for the rest of her life.
  • Her transition to competitive skiing came as a teenager when she attended a camp and met Paralympians and guides who encouraged her to reach for the next level.
  • Staci’s advice to younger athletes is to send those emails when they’re considering new opportunities. While the fear of rejection can hurt, only one or two people need to say yes for them to move forward.
  • Following a disappointing 2018 Paralympics due to injuries, it took Staci time to accept that the last 10 years of her life were not a waste because she didn’t achieve what she set out to. She can now see the opportunities in her academic and professional career that skiing opened up.
  • While a student at Dartmouth, Staci had trouble getting the appropriate accommodations through the regular channels. Staci sued Darthmouth, ending with a consent decree that will see Dartmouth make changes for future students.
  • Staci’s own experiences working with a sports psychologist as an athlete were her first exposure to the field. When she realized there was very little research on the psychology of athletes with disabilities, she started seeking out the few researchers who were doing this work.
  • Now a PhD student, her work bridges psychology and sociology in athletes with disabilities and she sees this as a way to give back to the community. 
  • Staci always assumed academia was not a place for someone with a disability and she’s on a mission to change that for the next generation.

Resources

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