( ENSPIRE Feature ) Fly Without Limits Founder, Matt Scott Joins Hands with The Hartford to Uplift the Community of Individuals with Disabilities.
ENSPIRE Contributor: Matthew Carbonell
Three-time Paralympic medalist, Matt Scott, proudly announced the launch of the Fly Without Limits Foundation. The non-profit organization is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Matt Scott acts as the foundation’s Executive Director intending to make life easier for people with physical disabilities. Thus, Fly Without Limits aims to provide resources, information, and opportunities to help individuals with permanent physical disabilities break down the barriers that stop them from living to their full potential.
Matt partners with The Hartford, who has made contributions to the community of individuals with disabilities in the past. This includes 50 custom Sports Wheelchairs for individuals and programs and a three-year $3.5 million donation to Move United. The Hartford applies their business knowledge, data, and expertise to help in adaptive sports, mental health, and fire safety. Since 2017, The Hartford has positively impacted an estimated 9.1 million lives by empowering communities and generating a social impact.
However, Fly Without Limits’ mission is not an easy one to carry out. So, Matt Scott shares his thoughts on the pain points Fly Without Limits and The Hartford hope to remedy together.
What are the “barriers” that stop people with disabilities from living life fully?
As a person who has lived my entire life with a disability, I’ve experienced the full spectrum of barriers that prevent our community from living life fully. These barriers can be physical and inaccessibility can play a significant factor. For example, the inaccessibility of our environments, transportation systems, public spaces, etc. can be extremely limiting. Systemic barriers also exist for people with disabilities such as dignified airline travel, access to healthcare, discriminatory policies, and more. On top of this, our community deals with many stereotypes and stigma regularly.
Would you say the barriers are purely physical, purely mental, or is it an equal mix of both?
Disability is a complex subject with many types, causes, and outcomes. We all overcome these challenges in different ways and experience them differently. However, everyone who lives life with a permanent physical disability understands the barriers that we face are both mental and physical. Fly Without Limits aims to make these barriers less overwhelming.
What are some challenges that Fly Without Limits aims to answer?
In a short time since our inception, we’ve already begun to make an impact by making adaptive sports equipment more accessible to members of our community who couldn’t afford it. We have worked with individuals to strengthen their mental health. Additionally, we are hosting a 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball tournament during the spring of 2024. This is to ensure we bridge the gap that exists for recreational opportunities. We will continue to make strides towards improving the disability employment statistics and have plans to connect with the education sector.
What would be your solution for certain moods such as lack of motivation or any other feeling that would hold someone back from living life fully?
A strong community is incredibly important when it comes to staying motivated and accountable. Lapses in motivation happen to us all. Fly Without Limits aims to be a resource for our community so when those lapses happen, we can be the support system needed to overcome this challenge.
The partnership with The Hartford seems like an amazing relationship, what would be the next step for the partnership?
The partnership is truly empowering. We have worked together for many years and share a passion for making adaptive sports more accessible to the disability community. The Hartford has been very supportive in my career and has also supported Fly Without Limits.
What are some things people can do to support Fly Without Limits and the foundation’s mission?
Follow our journey on the various platforms that we house content. Instagram, YouTube, etc. We are a growing community and appreciate every level of support. Check out our website www.flywithoutlimits.org for more updates.
With Fly Without Limits, both Matt Scott and The Hartford are aiming to empower those with permanent physical disabilities. They want to provide aid so that these individuals can combat adversity in a way that brings out their full potential. Especially with getting connected with the right equipment and the right resources. Fly Without Limits wants to help someone transition from someone who loves the sport to someone who can truly thrive.
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