NCAA on LinkedIn: For Staff Appreciation Day at the national office, we welcomed Grace… (2025)

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What can others learn from Paralympian Curtis McGrath’s story of overcoming adversity? How can the Paralympics boost conversations — and action — around inclusion and diversity? Here are my thoughts. #LinkedInNewsAustraliaI've met Curtis McGrath and he's a great bloke with an incredible story. With his German-made bionic legs he walked up the stairs to the podium to deliver a speech at a conference I was running. His approach and resilience and achievements captures the essence of what makes Australia great. For Australians, sport is a great leveler for conversations. We just watched in ore as the Australian Olympic team in Paris punched above their weight and returned 53 medals including 18 gold. We ranked 4th overall. Based on our population we deserve to rank 55th. On average we rank 8th across all Olympics. But when you talk Paralympics, that's another level up again. Australia ranks 6th on average across all games. The stories of our Paralympians help us appreciate not only their determination to overcome adversity, but to also highlight the human factor. At the end of the day we are all different but we are all the same in so many ways. Note: AI was not used to write this post;)

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Humankind sets itself limitations all the time. But then someone comes along and reimagines what is possible. We have a whole team of Paralympians from Australia about to show us how they've reimagined what is possible on the world stage #ImagineWhatWeCanDo #ParalympicsAustralia #PublicisAustralia #LinkedInNewsAustralia

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This is what commitment and passion is

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With the Paralympics drawing to a close, it's fascinating to note the contrasting success of top-performing nations. In the Olympics, USA & China led the medal charts (126/91) while Team GB secured an honorable 65 medals.In the ongoing Paralympics, China & Team GB are on track for a similar medal haul as the Olympics (87/54).However, the USA's current medal count is 42, just a third of their Olympic total. This raises questions about their focus and efforts in the Paralympics as a nation.At Anglia Research, we understand the importance of allocating efforts across all areas. We prioritize equal care and consideration in our work, avoiding a singular focus on flagship cases and revenue streams. #Paralympics #TeamGB #AngliaResearch

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What can others learn from Paralympian Curtis McGrath’s story of overcoming adversity? How can the Paralympics boost conversations — and action — around inclusion and diversity? Here are my thoughts. #LinkedInNewsAustraliaYes. there are two wonderful things that happen with the Paralympics. One we can admire the wonder, skill, and commitment of these wonderful athletes. Hence encouraging diversity.Two, possibly more importantly, this competition gives paralympians hope. As they compete and succeed.

What can others learn from Paralympian Curtis McGrath’s story of overcoming adversity? How can the Paralympics boost conversations — and action — around inclusion and diversity? Here are my thoughts. To further boost inclusion, organizations could: Partner with Paralympic athletes for workplace talks on resilience and diversity.Review and enhance workplace accessibility policies.Promote adaptive sports programs in local communities.McGrath's story reminds us that with the right mindset, support, and determination, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and achieve greatness.#LinkedInNewsAustralia

Cathy Anderson, Curtis McGrath’s life story is really something. It’s hard not to be moved by his journey from suffering the amputation of his lower limbs during a military operation to becoming a two time Paralympic gold medalist. His resilience and determination are truly inspiring.I think one of the most powerful lessons from McGrath’s experience is how he embraced his challenges. Rather than letting his setbacks define him, he used them as a springboard for personal growth. It makes me think about how we all have our own struggles, and maybe instead of seeing them as obstacles, we could try to see them as opportunities to grow.Another thing that stands out is how he found his passion in sports. For McGrath, sport wasn’t just a way to compete, it was a form of healing and a source of motivation. It really underscores the importance of finding something that drives us, something that gives us purpose and keeps us moving forward, even when things get tough.Setting goals also played a huge role in his success. His clear vision and determination kept him on track and motivated. It’s a reminder of how powerful goal setting can be, not just for athletes but for anyone facing challenges in their life.And let’s not forget the importance of support. His journey shows how vital it is to have a network of mentors, teammates, and supporters. We often underestimate the impact of having people around us who believe in us and help us along the way.The Paralympics are more than just a series of events, they’re a platform for advancing conversations about inclusion and diversity. Watching these incredible athletes break barriers and achieve greatness helps challenge stereotypes and push for a more inclusive society. It’s inspiring to see how determination and support can lead to such amazing accomplishments, and it reminds us of the potential in everyone when given the right support and opportunities

Curtis McGrath's journey is a powerful testament to the strength of resilience, positivity, and the human spirit. His story demonstrates that even in the face of extreme adversity, it's possible to find a path forward and thrive.One key takeaway from McGrath's experience is the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, even when life throws its hardest challenges at us. It's natural to feel overwhelmed by negative responses or setbacks, but these don't have to define our journey. Instead, they can serve as opportunities to reflect, regroup, and continue moving forward with renewed determination.I often remind myself of a simple yet profound analogy: If we desire something, a cup of coffee on the table in front of us, for instance, we can't just wish for it to come to us. We have to take action, get up, and reach for it. Similarly, in life, we must take proactive steps toward our goals, knowing that while we can't always control the outcomes, we can control our efforts. As long as we keep pushing forward, there is always hope for a positive result.McGrath's ability to shift his focus from what he had lost to what he could do is a powerful testament to the transformative power of mindset. In the midst of losing his limbs, he was already thinking about how he could use what he had left to build a new life. This shift from dwelling on loss to seeking out new possibilities is what propelled him from a place of despair to becoming a two-time Paralympic gold medalist.His story also highlights the importance of being open-minded and agile. McGrath didn't just accept his circumstances; he explored new avenues, like Paralympic sport, which he had never tried before. This willingness to step outside of his comfort zone and repeatedly strive for improvement is a key ingredient in his success and a valuable lesson for all of us.In every aspect of our lives, McGrath's story encourages us to hold onto hope, stay positive, and constantly push ourselves to do just a little bit more. No matter the obstacles we face, there is always the potential for something positive to emerge as long as we keep moving forward.Let McGrath’s journey remind us that with resilience and a positive mindset, we can turn our adversities into opportunities for growth. The right attitude combined with determined effort can make all the difference. #LinkedInNewsAustralia #Resilience #PositiveMindset #Reflect

What can others learn from Paralympian Curtis McGrath’s story of overcoming adversity? How can the Paralympics boost conversations — and action — around inclusion and diversity? Here are my thoughts. #LinkedInNewsAustraliaIn my opinion one of the challenges of this topic is that it doesn't directly touch everyone's lives with the same degree and for some it is unfamiliar and given that we as humans can fear, resist, reject or ignore what we don't know or understand, that creates barriers to effecting meaningful social change.If we look back at history at parts of our regular daily lives, it's easy to forget that these were hard won victories of the bygone era - Voting rites, gay marriage, freedom of speech... and for them to become normalised to the point where they are no longer 'unusual', challenging or controversial takes time and a shift in the social conscience.We have seen this with many other important social issues like mental health, domestic violence, gender equality and homelessness where until the topic is openly covered and discussed in mainstream media on a day-to-day basis rather than just once every four years, that real change is slow. Certainly our country, people living with a disability and the broader need for greater diversity and inclusion have much to thank the likes of Curtis McGrath OAM PLY, Dylan Alcott OAM and Damien Thomlinson for sharing their stories and inspiring us with their incredible life journeys of overcoming adversity. They pave the way for others to follow, as many have done to help reframe and set a new narrative for diversity and inclusion and encourage us all to be aware of our own unconscious bias and not to judge a proverbial 'book by its cover'. The real power to drive public opinion and effect attitudinal change though still resides with the mainstream media and online platforms and how they behave. And whilst the coverage of the Paralympics was better this time than I have seen before, I feel like we still have some way to go. So, being able to watch events like these with the same ease as the Olympics, supported by the same fanfare, combined with celebrating the successes (and by this I don't mean only those who receive a medal) and stories of anyone overcoming adversity, will help normalise the topic and bring it more mainstream and into our lives so that we can appreciate and relate to anyone with a disability as another human being.Blair Rebecca

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