HINES Shauna Kay

Classification
K44 (World Taekwondo, 26 Aug 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021; Facebook profile, 30 Jun 2020; jamaicaobersver.com, 01 Dec 2019; jis.gov.jm, 04 Apr 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021; Facebook profile, 30 Jun 2020; jamaicaobersver.com, 01 Dec 2019; jis.gov.jm, 04 Apr 2019)

Impairment Details
She was born without her right forearm. Her arm tapers down from the elbow to the wrist and has three small fingers. She has declined the used of a prosthesis. "I got offers but I don't need it, because for me personally, I think it is hiding the true me. Prosthesis would eliminate me from doing stuff on my own. I don't like to be dependent, I don't like to be pitied." (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021; Facebook profile, 30 Jun 2020; jamaicaobersver.com, 01 Dec 2019; jis.gov.jm, 04 Apr 2019)

General
PARA SPORT COMMUNITY
Growing up in the Dunkirk neighbourhood of East Kingston, Jamaica, she says she did not encounter any Para athletes or sports organisations until age 26 or 27. "I believe that where you come from doesn't have to define you. I have a disability, I am born an arm amputee. Based on my strong family support and family structure, I wasn't exposed to disability communities until about the age of 26 or 27. Since I have come closer to the community of persons with disabilities in sports, I have identified that many do not feel that they are equal to others. We want to be equal to everybody within all sports circles and society as a whole. It means a lot, especially for our community of persons with disabilities. There is not enough support for Para athletes." (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021)

OCCUPATION
She works from home as an IT professional in Kingston, Jamaica. (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021; jamaicaobersver.com, 01 Dec 2019; Facebook profile, 10 Oct 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2019 she was involved in a project called 'The Paralympic Project - Celebrating the Strength of a Woman', which aimed to secure training equipment for Para athletes. "Over 10 countries in the Pan-American region were present. We all had to execute a project back home. Our project was to transform our gym into a world class training facility that will strengthened us to reach our goal regardless of any challenges." In 2020 she served as a representative for the Agitos Foundation, an organisation that aims to promote and support Para sport. (en.unesco.org, 12 Aug 2021; jamaicaobersver.com, 01 Dec 2019; Facebook profile, 10 Oct 2020)

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
In 2021 she took part in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's [UNESCO] #iRespectU social media campaign, where she talked about her relationship with sports and its power to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the Caribbean. In 2020 she was selected to take part in the International Paralympic Committee's [IPC] social media campaign to promote the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. "I am so elated that Jamaica has been selected and that I will be representing my country on this global platform. When I was contacted I said, 'Is this really for me?' Even though I know that Jamaica has been steadily making waves, to be part of a global promotion for an international games is an unexpected honour." (jamaicaobersver.com, 03 Sep 2020)

She became the first Jamaican Para taekwondoka to compete at the Parapan American Games when she participated at the 2019 edition in Lima, Peru. She also become the first Jamaican to win a medal at the tournament, following her bronze in the women's K44 -58kg category in 2019. (insidethegames.biz, 18 Aug 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 26 Aug 2021)