Ryadh and his association CAP-SAAA work at three different levels: to empower the disabled, raise awareness and the level of education about disability among the non-disabled, and, integrate the non-disabled in the world of the disabled in professional sport in particular.The first level of Ryadh’s work focuses on the way the handicapped view themselves. He believes it is essential to replace the prevailing attitude of victimization and dependence among the disabled with ones of dignity, autonomy, and confidence. In his view, if the disabled want to assert their right to equality, they have a duty to show that they are capable of taking charge of their own lives. Ryadh provides opportunities through participation in the outreach and education activities of Cap-Classe and participation in organized sports like basketball. Using sport clubs as the core of his strategy, he progressively recreates social links through sports then changes the way handicapped people consider themselves by showing them what they can achieve and how they can fun at the same time. The second step is to provide mentors to new club members and help them understand that they can accomplish a good deal themselves—such as find a job, have a family, or launch their own businesses. Thanks to these living examples, people begin to think of themselves less as victims and take control of their own lives. Having experienced how strong and efficient this approach was in the Paris region, Ryadh is now moving to develop it on a national level. His strategy is to identify and designate through several networks (including national citizen organizations such as the Association des Paralysés de France and the Handisport Federation), the sports clubs for handicapped people which are ready to adopt this approach. The objective is to train these clubs and enable them to move from sports clubs into primary schools where they will develop prevention actions through the Cap-Classe project, the second pillar of Ryadh’s strategy.The Cap-Classe project, which Ryadh has been developing since 2003, revolves around the positive experience of what it means to overcome one’s handicaps. Alternating sports and games and demonstrations with more serious didactic exercises, Ryadh and his team break down the wall of misunderstanding and prejudice which separate the disabled from the rest of the world. With a start in Parisian and Paris Region’s schools, his Cap-Classes have spread to universities, medical schools, community centers, and businesses. Awareness of the loss of autonomy (much like the loss suffered during an illness or old age) is essential for a full understanding of the disabled. His aim is to foster empathy through shared experience and through recognition that those with disabilities are not so different. Each year, more than 5,000 children and young people benefit from his programs and he has signed an agreement to develop this program in the 600 primary schools in Paris over 4 years.However, Ryadh does not want to limit his work to Paris. He has started to develop this program in other places, such as Lyon (France’s second largest city) which will act as the catalyst for the region. His strategy to spread his program on a national level is closely linked to the development of the sports clubs he is designing. His vision is to have in every region of France a leading sport club with handicapped people who will go into the primary schools to set up this prevention program. In order to do that, and because the French education system is very centralized, Ryadh has signed a general agreement with the Ministry of Education.Finally, to promote co-education and coexistence, Ryadh founded the first wheelchair basketball league open to those without disabilities which now has chapters throughout France. What used to be called “handibasket” (from handicap and basketball) is now just called “wheelchair basketball”. “Wheelchair basketball” has simply become an alternative form of play. This shift in the lexicon is indicative of the change Ryadh wants to make: transforming the notion of handicap on every level. The French Ministry of Sport has found in Ryadh’s approach new ways to bridge the world of the disabled and non-disabled and have asked him to train all the regional sports managers to enable them to welcome handicapped people into their sports clubs and sports classes. Ryadh’s next goal is to facilitate access to sport for handicapped women. By creating the first 100 percent female club playing in a male championship, Ryadh is demonstrating that inclusion starts with welcoming everyone in a club. Once again, his strategy to spread this approach will be based on his local designated sports clubs. In 2001 Ryadh created the “Defistival,” (play on the French words défi [challenge] and festival), a festive gathering for the disabled and non-disabled that includes concerts, sports, and educational conferences. “Come with your differences, leave with your similarities!” With this slogan, Ryadh continues to promote interaction between the disabled and the general public—as well as between those with different types of disabilities. Each year, more than 10,000 people participate in “Defistival” and Ryadh is in the final stages of exporting the model to other countries including Belgium.Currently CAP-SAAA has two paid employees, but it has a robust network of volunteers which manages most of its programs. CAP-SAAA is 70 percent self-financed and external funding comes primarily from foundations. CAP-SAAA is now working to become more sustainable by increasing the number of presentations and services it sells to local businesses and communities.
