Disability Sports Australia begins delivery of Activate Inclusion Sports Days
This unique disability adaption program was run by Sport NSW with the funding support of Variety – The Children’s Charity NSW/ACT since 2016, catering for over 6,200 students aged 5 to 18 years of age with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability across NSW.
In 2020 only one day in Queanbeyan with 132 students was able to occur due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The disability space has been hit harder than most with more participants at risk due to their various immune challenges.
Blacktown City Council hosted the first day of 2021 at Blacktown Leisure Centre in Stanhope Gardens, 232 registered participants booked their place to experience adaptive versions of:
AFL, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Netball and NRL
Disability Sports Australia in collaboration with Sports NSW have also included some new aspects to the Activate Inclusion Sports Days to ensure sustainability for participants with physical, sensory or intellectual disabilities.
CAN I PLAY:
This aspect of the day allows students to nominate a community sporting club or social active recreation program they currently are doing. It also allows them to tell Disability Sports Australia what community sports or social active recreation programs they would like to try.
PHYSICAL LITERACY:
One of the primary challenges for students with disabilities is having the opportunity to participate at the same equal points as their peers before or while at school, many kids get to school having not participated in any real physical activity. This leaves the child with lower strength, balance, coordination and motor skills than their peers. Disability Sports Australia are now testing base levels of physical literacy around these essential features, we will then work with our research partners to collate data into statistical research. We will then work with our health, education, community and government sector partners to enhance participation opportunities in the Early Childhood early intervention space.
Community and Health Partners:
Disability Sports Australia value the programs Community partner Mable and Health partner Healthstin who can translate the work through the Activate Inclusion Sports Days to the greater community for sustainable outcomes to break down disability stereotyping.
Schools, parents and carers can register students by going to the following link and choosing the event closest to them across NSW. Further days will be available in QLD, NT and VIC in 2021 before the expected national delivery of this program in a collaboration with Variety Australia and Disability Sports Australia.
https://www.sportnsw.com.au/disability-inclusion/activate-inclusion-sports-days/
Press Release Contact:
Murray Elbourn – CEO Disability Sports Australia
Phone: 0427186734 – Email: Murray@sports.org.au
