Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Pfizer Canada was proud to host Paralympic Hopeful Allison Lang at our recent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Day at our head office. Allison is a sitting volleyball player who is preparing for her Paralympic debut in Paris 2024. She taught Pfizer colleagues how to play this fast-paced and exciting game that showcases the skills and abilities of athletes with disabilities. This was a fun and engaging opportunity for our colleagues to learn more about parasport and to hear about Allison’s journey: from a young girl navigating her disability and her struggles with body confidence, to a successful athlete and disability advocate.

As part of our ongoing commitment to DEI, we wanted to learn more about Allison's journey and perspective. That's why we invited Pfizer colleague Lara, the 2024 Pfizer Give a Hand Fellow, to interview Allison about her experiences and insights. Lara will be volunteering with the Canadian Paralympic Committee at the Paralympics in Paris as a Social & Content Assistant, where she will support the CPC and promote parasport awareness.

In the interview, Allison shares what motivated her to pursue parasports, and how her whole life involves DEI at this point. She says, “I don’t move through a part of my day without thinking about it. Disabilities are still just becoming a larger topic and a contributing topic in DEI, and I think that there’s still so much more education to be had...I think that more disabled people need to be invited to the table to have these conversations and share our stories.”

Allison also highlights the fact that the disparities between accessibility and frequency of parasport and non-parasport broadcasting makes it difficult for people with disabilities to see themselves pursuing sport in a professional capacity. She hopes that the Paralympics will inspire more people with disabilities to get involved in sports and physical activity, and to challenge the stereotypes and stigma that they may face.

At Pfizer, we are proud to support Allison and her team as they prepare for their Paralympic debut in Paris. We are inspired by their dedication, resilience, and excellence, and we are committed to advancing  inclusion of people with disabilities in our workplace and beyond.

Pfizer Canada is looking forward to cheering on Allison, her team, and all the Canadian athletes at the 2024 Paralympics! Go Team Canada!

Learn more about Allison's story by watching the full interview below.