Swimming Canada is excited to announce the limited video series: “Sorry, but can I ask…?” releasing across Swimming Canada social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube).

The 10-video instalments give members of the national Para swimming team a chance to address anonymous questions submitted by the swimming community and educate viewers on Para swimming in Canada.

The series features a group of national team members with various impairments, including Paralympians Abi Tripp, Alec Elliott, Danielle Dorris and Matthew Cabraja alongside World Para Swimming Championships team members Tyson MacDonald, Jacob Brayshaw and Jordan Tucker.

The swimmers – who gathered both in person and virtually – answered a wide variety of questions such as, “How would you compare the challenges of swimming as an impaired person to the challenges of everyday life?” and “What kind of barriers of entry did you face getting into swimming?”

Para Swimming Development Consultant and four-time Paralympian, Darda Sales, conceptualized the Para swimming-focused series which was inspired by CBC’s short form series, “You Can’t Ask That”.

“The ‘Sorry, but can I ask…?’ series is important as it allows the swimming community an opportunity to ask the questions about Para swimming they’ve always wanted to ask but were maybe too nervous to ask,” said Sales. “The series allows athletes the opportunity to answer those questions in their own words.”

“My hope is that the “Sorry, but can I ask” series educates the swimming and general community on the athletic and lived experiences of Para swimmers. It is the start of an ongoing open and honest conversation about what it means to be a para swimmer.”

Virtual participant, 2020 Paralympic Champion Danielle Dorris, was eager to participate.

“What I hope people take away from this series is that people shouldn’t be afraid to ask us questions and that we are very open people,” said Dorris. “The series will bring normalcy in Para swimming because we are no different than able-bodied swimming. I hope people will respect us more and cheer for us just as much as they do with the able-bodied. We are all just human beings in the grand scheme of things.”

In-person participant Abi Tripp is optimistic the series will have far reaching effects for all sports.

“These conversations will hopefully make disability a more approachable subject.”

Virtual participant Jacob Brayshaw prepared thoughtful notes in advance of filming to ensure he could confidently address a question of sensitive nature.

“It is important to share these conversations, as it gives insight on living with a disability to people who do not,” said Brayshaw.

Assisting in the development and production of the series was Stephanie Matthews, Swimming Canada’s High Performance Para Swimming Program Coordinator. She says the series will bring value and education to Para swimming and Para athletes.

“The lives of our Para swimmers can be impacted by people making uninformed decisions and opinions, many of whom don’t live with physical, visual or intellectual impairments,” explains Matthews. “In recent years, there has been amazing progress made in mental health, taking away the stigma and letting people know that ‘It’s OK to not be OK.’ That same drive for public awareness needs to happen for people living with impairments. This video series is our first step to making that happen.”

The swimmers hope that after people watch the series they will feel welcome to politely and appropriately ask questions.

The first installment of the mini-series premieres on Sunday, Dec. 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The UN proclaimed observance of the IDPD in 1992 aiming to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.