AusLeisure

More than 160 students of all abilities had the chance to try out eight inclusive sports and learn new skills as part of a recent Disability Sports Australia event, hosted by Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope.

Activate Inclusion Day brought together students from schools across the Blacktown local government area to have a go at a range of sports, from wheelchair rugby, to baseball, frame-running, blind and low-vision tennis, AFL, volleyball and football.

The one-day program, run in partnership with Sport NSW, Variety The Children’s Charity and various sporting body partners, aims to introduce young people with disability to accessible sports, with a focus on the importance of staying active.

Advising that Blacktown Leisure Stanhope was proud to host the important initiative, Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale stated “these sport days help young people, who might otherwise be overlooked, get involved in sports that best suit their abilities.

“There really is a sport out there for everyone, but without exposure, it’s impossible for young people to know what’s available to them.

“Inclusive sport programs such as this bring great value to our community and I thank Sport NSW and all the community and sporting groups who took part.”

The event was supported by volunteers and representatives from each of the sports on show, who coached the students and led them through activities.

Activate Inclusion Day is aimed at school children between five and 18 years of age with learning, intellectual, sensory and physical disabilities.

The days were introduced by Sport NSW in 2016, with the latest event supported by Special Olympics NSW/ACT and Collective Leisure.

Uniting and the NDIS provided a sensory tent that allowed participants to rest and recover in a safe space on the day.

Images: NRL Wheelchair coach explain rules to students with the assistance of sign language interpreter (top) and students play modified volleyball, with softer balls and lower nets, under the guidance of Volleyball NSW (below). Credit: City of Blacktown.

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