May's Good News
[Image ID - a green graphic with white text reading ‘May’s Good News’ and the Disability Sports Australia logo.]
Every day we are lucky to receive news about people doing wonderful things for the active disability space. These can range from initiatives to someone sharing their story. Disability Sports Australia is now compiling a shortlist of favourites that we’ve come across in the past month.
We hope this series generates a snowball effect of good stories to share leading to further growth in the sector.
Do you have a story you want us to tell?
Please send the story and your contact details to Disability Sports Australia’s email: info@sports.org.au
1. All Things Equal in the Community
[Image ID - A photo of two All Things Equal staff working at the Ajax Junior Football Club canteen. They are smiling at the camera and preparing sausages on a barbecue. Next to a photo is a green graphic with white text reading ‘All Things Equal in the Community’.]
Photo Credit: Bianca Stern
All Things Equal cafe in Melbourne is tackling the employment gap for people with disability. Approximately half of its staff, both front-of-house and kitchen, live with a disability. The cafe aims to normalise people with disability working in mainstream environments and to show that their work should be compensated equally.
All Things Equal have been taking their services out to the community. They are in their second year of hosting the canteen for local junior football club – Ajax. All Things Equal General Manager, Bianca Stern, praised the local club’s embrace of the collaboration.
“The entire junior football club has been amazing,” said Stern. “We are in our second year of running the canteen for them. We are already noticing the impact on the club. Their education, mindset and attitudes around inclusion. They are leading by example.”
To find out more about All Things Equal cafe, please visit: allthingsequal.com.au
To learn of Ajax Junior Football Club’s inclusive programs, please email: info@ajaxfootballclub.com.au
2. People of Brimbank Podcast – Jason Heagerty
[Image ID - A photo of Jason Haegerty in his AFL Wheelchair attire. Jason is sitting in a sports wheelchair, smiling, and wearing his Collingwood FC guernsey. Next to the photo is a green graphic with white text reading ‘People of Brimbank Podcast - Jason Heagerty’.]
Photo Credit: Brimbank City Council
Brimbank City Council in Victoria has created an eight-part community podcast series sharing the stories from local people living, studying, or working in Brimbank. The series highlights the guests’ life experiences, their community involvement, and why community is so important to them.
Episode four features Jason Heagerty. Jason is a gamer, loves music and dancing, and has a deep passion for AFL. He shares his involvement in several activities, including playing for the Collingwood AFL Wheelchair team, and volunteering at the library and at his own Football Integration Development Association (FIDA) AFL team.
Whilst balancing many things in his life, Jason speaks of the importance of being active.
“You’ve got to get out and about. You’ve got to work. You’ve got to do something that keeps you fit and healthy.”
Listen to the full episode below or via your preferred podcasting platform here.
3. Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability – Griffith University
[Image ID - A photo of Madison de Rozario in a professional photo shoot. Madison is in a sport hand cycle wearing her green and yellow Australian representative top. She looks focused on something ahead of her. Next to the image is a green graphic with white text reading ‘Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability’.]
Photo Credit: Griffith University
Griffith University released a reflection video of their Inclusivity in Play Pitch Festival held last year. Griffith facilitated a space for Queenslanders with disability to share their ideas with close to 100 academics, service providers, and others to pitch a research project.
In the sector, there is a lack of research to support people with disability to reach their sporting goals, especially for women. The ‘Play (Active and Engaged Citizens)’ research theme of the project intersects more aspects of a person’s identity relating to participation. It aims to ensure people with disability are included in all levels of sport in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.
To gain more information or collaborate with Griffith Inclusive Futures, please visit: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au
4. Dockers’ Sensory Room
[Image ID - A photo of Fremantle Dockers’ Sensory Room in Optus Stadium. Featured are sensory items, a book saying ‘taking a break’, headphones and a beanbag.. Next to the image is a green graphic with white text reading ‘Dockers’ Sensory Room’.]
Photo Credit: Fremantle Dockers
The Fremantle Dockers in the Australian Football League have launched a Sensory Room for their home games at Optus Stadium in 2023. The space was co-designed and piloted in 2022. Created in collaboration with the Autism Association of WA, the Purple Hands Foundation, and Access without Barriers, the space includes a range of sensory activities and a relaxing space away from the commotion of the stadium.
This initiative is helping make attending the footy a safe and comfortable environment for individuals with autism and their families.
5. British Sign Language boost in English football
[Image ID - A photo of the British Sign Language interpreter translating the national anthem at the Women’s FA Cup Final in Wembley. Next to the image is a green graphic with white text reading ‘Sign Language boost in English Football’.]
Photo Credit: theFA.com
Arsenal Football Club in the English Premier League are providing a permanent British Sign Language (BSL) service at every home game. All Arsenal’s home matches, including the club’s pre-match and half-time live broadcasts, now have full BSL integration, while all club content within the stadium has an embedded BSL interpreter.
‘The Gunners’ launched the initiative with the help of their midfielder Jorginho in the following video.
Long-term Arsenal fan and season ticket-holder Christopher Clelland helped co-design the initiative with the club, Arsenal Disability Liaison Team and Arsenal Disabled Supporters Association.
“I am profoundly deaf and British Sign Language is my first language, said Clelland. “This is a huge step for Arsenal and Deaf fans, who can now enjoy the same access to information as other fans and be included in any pre-match discussions, interviews and special events, by having these interpreted into BSL live on screen.”
In the recent women’s FA Cup final where Australian Sam Kerr scored the winner, three BSL interpreters translated for the crowd and broadcast audience in the build-up and coverage of the game.
The FA have since pledged that every final at Wembley will have a minimum of two BSL as standard practice.
Thank you for reading our first ‘Good News’ edition.
If you have any suggestions on what we should share next, please send the story and your contact details to Disability Sports Australia’s email: info@sports.org.au
