Wheelchair basketballer not letting negativity crush her Paralympic Games dream

Charlotte Barber is a budding Paralympian but she spends her days shrugging off barbs from people questioning her disability. Discover the horrific insults hurled at the para-athlete from the people she may one day represent on the world stage.

Wheelchair basketballer Charlotte Barber has her sights set on representing Australia. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Charlotte Barber is a budding Paralympian but she spends her days shrugging off barbs from people questioning her disability.

The 21-year-old wheelchair basketballer has opened up about the horrific insults hurled her way from the people she may one day represent on the world stage.

It’s inspired Barber to speak out and urge people never to judge those when they are unaware of their situations.

“I have a herniated disc in my back,” Barber said.

“Some days I can be fine I can walk. But then one day I got hit the wrong way (in a wheelchair basketball game) and I couldn’t walk for a whole week.

“Going out I had to borrow my mother’s wheelchair or my brother’s to get around.

“It mostly depends on the day.”

Navigating public spaces in her wheelchair can be difficult for Charlotte- particularly when there are narrow or obstructed aisles in shops.

The truly hard days however are when Charlotte has to ignore comments and disapproving glances from the public.

“I have a disability permit for parking,” Charlotte said.

“But one of the struggles I have a lot is the looks I’m given especially when I can walk when I get out of the car.

Wheelchair basketballer Charlotte Barber.

“I get a lot of bad looks and people say things.

“One day a lady followed us and said ‘well I guess when you’re young you can park where ever you want’.

“I’ve heard lots of bad things said.

“It’s tough because some days I’m fine and then my muscles can just say no.

“I want to say (to people) don’t judge the book because even though we don’t look like we have a disability we do.”

Fortunately Barber has wheelchair basketball.

Following the lead of her older brothers Dylan and Curtis, Barber has a near unrivalled passion for the sport from training and playing to teaching others.

“My oldest brother Dylan did a come and try day at his school Clifford Park Special School and then Curtis went along to training (with Dylan) and got into it,” she said.

“I slowly drifted in after them.

“When I was younger it was hard for me to find what I had a passion for, mum actually tried us out in hockey.

“But I never had that drive or that passion to do anything until wheelchair basketball came along.

“Now I’m doing five days of training sessions a week.

“Monday to Thursday we are the Gold Coast and Brisbane and on Saturdays I’m playing in Toowoomba.”

Not-for-profit organisation Sporting Wheelies have also played a huge role in her journey.

As well as providing the wheelchair which Charlotte competes in the organisation also provides competition and coaching opportunities for players.

They also support Charlotte’s big dream.

“My brothers and I would love to play in premier (national) teams, that would be great,” she said.

“After that it’s the same dream as every athlete – going to the Paralympics.”

Sporting Wheelies are the chief organisers of the Darling Downs Challenge – a wheelchair basketball tournament running from November 9-10 in Toowoomba.

Originally published as Wheelchair basketballer not letting negativity crush her Paralympic Games dream