Mental
Print version ISSN 1679-4427On-line version ISSN 1984-980X
Abstract
SANTOS, Márcio de Souza; FOURAUX, Carolina Gonçalves da Silva and OLIVEIRA, Valéria Marques de. Narrative of an paralympic boccia athlete: listening to those who do not speak. Mental [online]. 2017, vol.11, n.20, pp.176-205. ISSN 1679-4427.
The Paralympic boccia is a challenger sport for the disabled with motor impairment in all four limbs. A group of these athletes, even with the sports practice, remains hampered by oralization inability and lack of communication by other means. Based on Cultural Psychology sought to understand how these people are constructed, through the narrative of these subjects, considering the importance of being present in the world through communication and do this for yourself, by the need to make intelligible to the other, establishing dialogue. It is proposed adjustments in the narrative and subsequent analysis, considering the characteristics of the subjects: communication by translator or computer with adapted keyboard; expressions, sounds and gestures changed by disability; choice of pictures; and social network analysis of the subject. Because of this, the researcher's role was of great importance, establishing links with the subjects, which allowed dialogue, and aiming to know the life story of people accustomed to be interpreted and not heard. It was noticed that the boccia adapted, different than the researcher believed, is not the salvation of a stagnant life, but it is primarily a bridge for socializing and recreation; and, secondly, the athlete's career, bringing his other identity. The narrative research allowed the study to show the behind the scenes of this work, and the joint data collection methods improved the dialogue with the subject, showing a mature athlete, intelligent, not as independent as it is believed to be ideal , but as autonomous as possible.
Keywords : narration; psychology; sports; disabled persons.