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Jessica Long: Companies Should do More to Support the Paralympic Games

By U.S. News & World Report

As the 2016 Paralympic Games take place in Rio de Janeiro from Sept. 7 through 18, U.S. News & World Report is looking at the challenges facing disabled people worldwide.

Over the course of my professional swimming career, I have earned 12 gold medals and represented the United States at the Athens, Beijing and London Games. I hope to bring home more medals for Team USA in Rio de Janeiro. While many people on the street might remember Michael Phelps’ name, and that he has won a total of 23 gold medals spanning five Olympic Games, it’s common for people to be less knowledgeable about my achievements because my medals have all been won in the Paralympics.

Despite being one of the largest global sporting events, there remains a substantial gap between the level of public awareness, media coverage and sponsorship support for the Paralympics when compared to the Olympics. Because swimming is my passion, I want to help build a more significant presence for the Paralympics and ensure a brighter future and Long-evity (I borrowed that reference from U.S. Paralympics) for all disabled athletes in the United States.

It is estimated that approximately 130 million people in the U.S. participate in some form of swimming activity, according to the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. These participation numbers certainly explain why brands are interested in this segment. What remains a mystery to me is why more companies are not actively marketing to the U.S. disability market, which is comprised of an estimated 53 million people who represent $544 billion in spending, according to Fifth Quadrant Analytics. Nearly one in five people in the U.S. have a disability — around 20 percent of the population — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It makes good business sense for a company to have a leadership role in the diversity market. So why not start with an investment tied to one of the largest sporting events in the world?

When I first began competing, brands were quite hesitant to feature disabled athletes in advertisements, perhaps due to a fear of offending consumers. I almost never read a Paralympic athlete’s profile in a popular health, sports or fashion magazine. Quite a bit evolved between the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and 2012 London Paralympics with how disabled athletes and military veterans were perceived. In 2012, I had the privilege of appearing in multiple print and TV advertisements. One of the very first fashion features where I appeared without my prosthetic legs was in ELLE magazine’s publication, “Gold Rush.”

As we head into the Rio Paralympics, seeing an athlete in a wheelchair, missing a limb or wearing a prosthetic is no longer considered taboo or shocking. Rather, our differences are seen as relatable and inspiring to millions of people. I am honored that a variety of media outlets including Teen Vogue (December 2015 and August 2016), Glamour magazine (July 2016), Women’s Health magazine (July 2016), Interview magazine (July 2016), leading fashion, beauty, lifestyle outlet Mode.com (March 2016) and NBCUniversal’s “1st Look” TV show (will air August/September 2016) have featured my story along with those of other Paralympians.

I am so grateful that respected global swimwear brand Arena stepped up to support U.S. Paralympics as a supplier. They also sponsor me individually, as their first Paralympic swimmer. United States Olympic Committee (USOC) supplier, airweave, and USOC sponsor, Liberty Mutual, understand the demands of my full-time training and race schedule and sponsorship needs. These brands positioned me alongside other able-bodied Olympic athletes, which is a huge step towards closing the gap.

Brazil is the first South American country to host a Paralympic Games. More than 4,350 athletes from 160 countries are expected to compete in 22 sports. U.S. media rights holders NBCUniversal and the USOC will offer more coverage of the Games than ever before. The networks will air 66 hours of coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, an increase of 60.5 hours from the coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, while TeamUSA.org and USParalympics.org will provide comprehensive online coverage.

Outside of the U.S., British broadcaster Channel 4 will be making history with 700 hours of live Games coverage across all platforms. Australia’s Seven Network is planning to deliver 14 hours of live coverage daily from Sept. 7-18. New Zealand viewers can look forward to TVNZ’s more than 180 hours of planned coverage dedicated to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. National television broadcaster France Télévisions will offer more than 100 hours of live broadcasting that will include Opening and Closing Ceremonies. All of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) member countries have committed to more broadcast time for the Rio Games. NHK in Japan has also promised more airtime than ever before. In all, the 2016 Paralympics will be on TV in at least 115 countries around the world.

Regarding the upcoming Games, Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), said, “I am fully confident that the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will break the four billion cumulative global viewers barrier for the first time, a huge achievement and testament to the growth of the Paralympic Movement.” Overall, I believe there has been a significant shift in the acceptance and appreciation of Paralympic athletes, but we still have a long way to go.

Be sure to tune in and cheer on your favorite Paralympic athletes, starting Sept. 7th!

More from U.S. News

Countries With the Most Olympic Gold Medals Per Capita

Buoyed by Olympics, Rio Returns to Reality

Lack of International Data on Disability Issues Hampers Advocates

Jessica Long: Companies Should do More to Support the Paralympic Games originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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