More Than What You See: Sarah Hope on Sport, Autism, and Advocacy
Introduction
We’re proud to share the story of Sarah Hope—a former GB wheelchair basketball player, current para ice hockey athlete, and fierce advocate for disability and neurodivergence in sport and life. Sarah’s journey is one of strength, strategy, and survival. Diagnosed later in life with autism and hereditary peripheral neuropathy, she has navigated not just the physical demands of elite sport, but the invisible pressures of being neurodivergent in a system that often doesn’t understand what that really means. From the emotional toll of masking to the burnout of high-performance environments, Sarah speaks with refreshing honesty about the realities that too often go unseen. But this story isn’t just about challenge—it’s about building a blueprint for thriving, advocating for change, and creating space for others to do the same.
Sarah Hope, Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy
Discovering Why: A Search for Clarity
Sarah's story is one of self-discovery, adaptation, and resilience. Diagnosed later in life with autism and hereditary peripheral neuropathy, she explained how uncertainty was often harder than the physical challenges themselves:
"It wasn’t just the not being able to run — it was the not knowing why. My brain couldn’t settle. I needed something to hold onto, a label, an explanation. That uncertainty was harder than any of the physical stuff."
Finding Belonging Through Sport
Her diagnosis journey was long, and her path to elite sport was anything but linear. But in sport, she found structure, purpose, and a community that made her feel seen. Starting in wheelchair basketball, Sarah found empowerment not just through movement but through the people around her:
"Sport helped with that... suddenly I'm surrounded by other people with physical challenges that just get on with life. If they can do it, I can do it."
The Dual Reality of Visible and Invisible Disability
"People will overplay the impact of the physical disability and underplay the impact of the neurodivergence."
Sarah also speaks candidly about the duality of living with a visible and invisible disability. While people often empathised with her as a wheelchair user, they were less likely to understand her autistic needs:
Sarah Hope, GB Wheelchair Basketball
Burnout and the Cost of High Performance
This misjudgement often left Sarah without the support she needed in high-performance sport. She reflected on how, despite telling professionals about her autism, it was still on her to explain what she needed:
"There isn't that support network in place within sport to help athletes figure that out themselves... The onus is on the athlete."
One particularly powerful moment she shared was the decision to step away from elite basketball due to burnout. The pressure to meet the expectations of high-performance sport while self-managing her neurodivergence eventually became unsustainable:
"I was told, 'This is the reality of elite sport. You're either in or you're out.' And yeah, I burnt out pretty quick."
Her experiences are a powerful reminder of the additional cognitive and emotional labour placed on neurodivergent athletes. While others focus on marginal gains, neurodivergent athletes often carry the weight of unacknowledged barriers:
"You're already having to carry this whole system on your back... and then you're also expected to advocate for yourself."
Structure as a Strength
Despite these challenges, Sarah also highlighted the many strengths her autism brings to her athletic and professional life. Her intense focus, love of routine, and determination were critical to her success:
"I do love a schedule. I'll have a training plan for the week, and even if I don’t feel like it, I’ll stick to it. It would unsettle me more not to do the session than to push through."
This consistency proved especially valuable during the isolation of lockdown:
"I had a whiteboard with a schedule, and I stuck to it."
Her ability to hyperfocus and train repetitively allowed her to progress despite not feeling like the most naturally gifted athlete:
"I'm definitely not as naturally talented as a lot of the other girls from the GB team... but one of the advantages of my autism is the ability to train and train and train until I get it right."
Sarah Hope, GB Para Ice-Hockey
Building a Blueprint for Success
After a break from elite sport, Sarah returned—this time equipped with a better understanding of what she needed to succeed. She continues to compete in para ice hockey and has carried those insights into her professional life:
"By the time I started work, I had a blueprint for how to get the most out of myself. So I could go to my boss and say: here are the five things we can do to help me thrive."
Sarah's journey is a lesson in the power of lived experience. She now uses her platform to raise awareness—sharing her story on Instagram and creating informal communities like a WhatsApp group for neurodivergent athletes in wheelchair basketball:
"If I'd had that going up through the ranks, it might have made life a little easier."
Creating Community, One Conversation at a Time
Her honesty is helping others feel less alone, and her advocacy is building a legacy of inclusion one conversation at a time:
"It's making little changes, and hoping someone else picks up the mantle."
Final Thoughts
We’re grateful to Sarah for sharing her journey—and for using her voice to speak up for those who are still trying to find theirs. Her story isn’t just one of resilience; it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when lived experience is valued, and when the environment begins to change—not just the individual.
But it also leaves us with an urgent question: should it really take a decade for a neurodivergent athlete to find their footing?
Too often, the path to self-understanding and sustainable performance is made harder by rigid systems and delayed support. Sarah’s reflections are more than personal—they're a call to action. If sport truly values inclusion, it must do better, and it must do so sooner.
You can follow Sarah on Instagram @sai93 to hear more about her journey, advocacy, and continued push for inclusion—on and off the ice.
Key Takeaways for Neurodivergent Individuals
Know what works for you
→ Building your own blueprint can be more powerful than following someone else’s plan.
Your strengths count—even if they look different
→ Hyperfocus, routine, and discipline aren’t always seen as talent, but they’re game-changers.
Burnout isn’t failure
→ Stepping back to reset is strength, not weakness.
Key Takeaways for Peers, Supporters, and Parents
Ask, don’t assume
→ Visible disabilities often get more empathy—true support starts with listening.
Connection changes everything
→ Peer support doesn’t have to be formal—it just has to be real.
Respect different tools
→ Whiteboards, routines, or strict schedules may look rigid—but they’re often self-regulation strategies.
Key Takeaways for Coaches, Leaders, and Organisations
Support should come first
→ Don’t wait for burnout—build inclusive systems from the start.
Inclusion boosts performance
→ Small changes can unlock consistency, trust, and long-term growth.
Don’t overlook the unseen effort
→ Neurodivergent athletes often carry invisible loads—factor that in when measuring output.
Written by Caragh McMurtry - originally a video interview.
