Culxtured is a media collective with a mission as bold as our founders. Born from the passion and experiences of four Paralympians, we are here to revolutionize the way the world views para sport.

Our journey is not just about sports; it's a movement to educate and challenge societal perceptions around disabilities — to eliminate the "UN" from uncultured.

Would you ever call a WNBA player an NBA player?

For Chuck Aoki, that’s the comparison he uses when he is called an Olympian. It’s not a flattering title for Paralympians, who already face a coverage deficit. What media coverage Paralympians receive often revolves around disability rather than achievement.

Dani Aravich saw the gap firsthand in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, when she worked for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Aravich, 29, began posting more herself to change the narrative. It’s the only way she could make an immediate impact.

That initiative led to the founding of Culxtured — a media collective dedicated to telling authentic stories from the Paralympic world. Aravich, alongside Aoki, Brenna Huckaby and Ryan Neiswender, started moving the needle on a platform that could bridge the gap in coverage.

While Milano Cortina will be the first Games for which Cultxured is assembled, the initiative is to progressively move the Paralympic needle into its own space, separate from Olympians, but one where coverage mimics the level of elite sport.

Increasing visibility for Para athletes is central to Culxtured’s mission.

“If you don't see yourself represented, how do you know you can do it?” Huckaby said. “... We want more disabled people in sports feeling like they belong in a place.”