Social Futures, Clarence Valley Council hosting ‘sports on wheels’, wheelchair basketball tournament at Grafton PCYC

A Paralympic athlete will be calling the shots at Grafton’s first inter-school wheelchair basketball tournament dubbed “the ultimate spin-off”. Here’s why this week’s event is so important.

Social Futures are hosting a wheelchair basketball competition at Grafton PCYC on November 30, 2023

Grafton’s first inter-school wheelchair basketball tournament coined “the ultimate spin-off” is about to kick off in a bid to promote inclusiveness.

To mark the United Nation’s International Day of People with Disability, not-for-profit Social Futures and Clarence Valley Council have organised Thursday’s tournament with hopes it will turn into an annual event.

About 20 per cent of Australians live with a disability, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The event including able-bodied participants is scheduled to begin with an exhibition game between local politicians and an all-star team of prominent residents at Grafton’s PCYC at 9am.

It will be refereed by wheelchair tennis Paralympian David Johnson, who has been teaching wheelchair sports in North Coast schools for around three years.

“The primary and secondary students soon figure out how challenging it is to control a sports wheelchair, it’s a good leveller and they quickly realise the talent and skill involved in wheelchair sports,” he said.

Paralympian David Johnson.

“But most students love this challenge … it also provides me with the chance to talk to them about the lives of people with disability and the importance of becoming an inclusive community.

“I make the point that people with disability have a right to sport, socialising, employment, and a full life – people with disability can achieve the same things as anyone else, but sometimes their path to the same goals is slightly different.”

The tournament will kick off with a game between local politicians and residents. Picture: Social Futures.

Grafton-based Social Futures area co-ordinator Jason Kingsley is one of the driving forces behind the tournament.

He said there will be a “trophy up for grabs for the winning” school – but “bragging rights”, more importantly, and “the plan is for it to become an annual event”.

Mr Kingsley flagged a barbecue lunch and said the day would be about “community and fun”, as well as helping to “promote the achievements of people living with a disability”.

“We live in a world that isn’t always built for people with disability and diverse need, but with a greater amount of awareness and understanding, and changes in mindset and physical environments, people with disability can be equal contributors to society,” he said.