Written by Neelu Jennings, disability advocate and disabled athlete.
We all love playing our favourite sports with our friends! The endorphins and adrenaline as you play the game, the camaraderie that you share with your teammates, who are all focussed on a shared goal, the after match social benefits as you get to know and learn more about those in your community. It gives you joy and great satisfaction. This is something we should all be able to experience, regardless of who we are or where we come from. But this is not how it always is for those living with a disability.
"I feel these games are our future. Games the whole community can play and enjoy together. Games that promote accessibility, connectivity, understanding and celebrate diversity"
For centuries, the disabled community have been segregated from their wider community. We are largely isolated in disability organisations which provide access to disability specific activities with other disabled people. Many people in my community have very little choice about the games they play and who they play with. Though we are classed as part of the community, we often don't have access to community events like others do - including community sports. My name is Neelu and I am a disabled woman who sees the lack of choice that disabled people have to participate with their wider community, a direct violation of basic human rights. I have stepped out of the status-quo and undertaken some adventures which have challenged people’s perceptions about the limitations of what disabled people can achieve with the support of their wider community. I am now working to create a new platform of sport that is accessible to anyone and everyone in our community. Integrated sports are sports that have been specifically tailored to be as accessible to the widest range of diverse community as possible. This means able bodied and disabled people and anyone else can all play together! When I put my idea to create an integrated rugby and football game to Wellington Rugby, and Capital Football, Michael Langley and Blair Duncan were both very excited at the prospect of creating a game where the participants truly reflected the community. They got to work right away! Presently we have trials of two sports underway, walking rugby and walking football. Both are open to wheelchair users as well. The games we have already played have been a great time for all involved. A variety of people have been playing from school children, to older people, those of all genders, and participants with varying impairments. Many thought that it would not be possible for such a varied group of participants to play together, however all enjoy the game and grow in understanding about others in their community. It has also been great learning for the sport organisations who have had very little interaction with the disabled community in their work. I feel these games are our future. Games the whole community can play and enjoy together. Games that promote accessibility, connectivity, understanding and celebrate diversity. Covid, as well as the recent effects of climate change have been a real wake up to our society about how vulnerable we are and how fragile a world we live in. It is more important now than ever that we build cohesive communities. Communities that we can all be a part of.
Content and photos courtesy of Neelu Jennings
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