DANI ARAVICH, PLY, SPORTS MEDIA

Meet Dani Aravich, a two-time Paralympian representing Team USA, a co-founder of Culxtured, a sports media collective focused on revolutionizing the way the world views para sport. Dani also works in digital media for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and is an avid disability advocate.

THE FUTURE OF PARA SPORT

“I see a world where para sport is talked about as much as Olympic [sport]. I see a world where people always include "Paralympics" when speaking about the Olympics. Where athletes get major sponsorships.

By eliminating the gross generalizations of people with disabilities being there to inspire non-disabled people, we can see how the Paralympics will actually change perceptions of disability in society.  

When people see the Paralympics, they gain respect for the people, and see their contributions rather than their disabilities.  The more the Paralympics grow- the more hopeful I am that education, work place, and others will follow suit.”

ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE PROUD OF

“I am most proud of starting Culxtured.  4 US Paralympians came together because we were exhausted trying to correct the media from the same narrative that is told time and time again about disabled athletes. 

In just 6 months, we have built a library of content that has been collaborated with Paralympics, Team USA, and we are pushing more news outlets to take responsibility on telling para stories.”

LEAVING HER MARK

“I want to leave the Paralympic movement better than when I found it. I want to see Paralympic athletes respected for their sports- not their disabilities.  I want to see them paid fair wages, and their stories talked about in the media.”