Program giving disabled a sporting chance

Andrew Mathieson
PEOPLE with disabilities are leaving the comfort of home for Geelong’s sports fields, greens and courts.
City of Greater Geelong’s Leisure Networks has reported a spike in competitors in its sport program for disabled people from 80 to 220 during the past three years.
Project worker Steven Tibbits said sport clubs and organisations were joining forces with the networks’ program to help offer more opportunities for disabled people to play sports.
“The problem was there hadn’t been options out there for people with disabilities outside of ours,” he said.
“There were programs where they would go on a picnic or play a bit of cricket and it was only service providers doing that.
“This is a whole new concept.”
Mr Tibbits said both physically and mentally disabled people had signed up with the program to compete in either Australian Rules football, indoor or wheelchair soccer, lawn bowls or a new basketball competition.
The sports opportunities were previously limited to cricket and netball, he said.
Now surfing, gymnastics and sailing groups had expanded their programs to teach the basics.
Leisure Networks had been contacting clubs throughout the Geelong region to promote sport to disabled people and their families.
Mr Tibbits said the network’s philosophy was to give disabled people similar opportunities to play sport as were available to the rest of the community.
“It’s about choice and creating modified competitions – no-contact, safe and inclusive competitions – so that everyone gets involved,” he said.
Mr Tibbits asked anyone seeking more information about the program to phone Leisure Networks on 5224 9908.