This article offers a reflection of my experience following the conclusion of the second edition of the Commonwealth Sport’s flagship Para sport development programme, GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) Americas & Caribbean, which was held in Jamaica from July 20 to 26, 2025. My views were profoundly shaped by the programme’s ability to illuminate the power of sport to transform lives, particularly the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

GAPS is a living, breathing space of connection, discovery, and reflection. Hosted by the Faculty of Sport at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona campus, the very location served as a reminder that the university is not just a place of academic pursuit, but also a hub for social transformation.

Ryan O Brathwaite is a graduate student in the Faculty of Sport - UWI, Mona Campus