(Photo by Oakville News on Unsplash)

One of the boys declared if Isabelle, my niece, is doing the chasing then no one should go up the equipment but if other children are doing the chasing, then they can run anywhere. With this new rule agreed on, they played happily for a good half an hour. When they left, they told Isabelle the evenings they would be in the playground again next week and that they hope to see her again. 

That got me thinking about inclusion. You see, sometimes we can be a bit like these older children who think that people with disabilities will not be able to take part because they can't adhere to the rules or the rules make the activities too dangerous for them. However, if we can adapt the rules or the set-up, everyone can take part. Also it doesn't just benefit those who have disabilities but can benefit everyone like these children discovered that it can be just as much fun, and they can make new friends. 

I really thank God for sending Sean into our lives over 13 years ago although when we received the diagnosis, we did not think so positively. However, it turns out to be a real blessing. Having Sean help us to change our attitudes to disabilities, learn about how people learn and know a close and supportive community. 

When the consultant told me that they thought he had Down Syndrome, I was devastated. I was thinking of his future as someone who can only work in sheltered workshops (as this is what people with disabilities did when I grew up). The consultant was very encouraging though and told us people with Down Syndrome can live independently with various levels of support. 

Fast forward 13 years and she was right. Sean has exceeded our expectations. We have never dreamed that he could swim 100m, know the word equation of photosynthesis, know more about planets, dwarf planets and exoplanets than we do. He is also a fun and loving boy who is eager to help. However, he is valued by God and deserved to be valued by the society not because what he can do but because everyone, regardless of ability, is precious to God. His ability just shows that we should never underestimate individuals with disabilities. They should be given the support to learn and to thrive.

He was chosen to be one of the baton bearers for the Commonwealth Games. After the baton relay, I asked him and his mum some questions:

Ary, how do you feel about the Queen's baton relay?

I was very honoured to have been given the opportunity. It will be something I will never forget and I had an amazing time and loved the crowds cheering me on!

What are your interests?

I love music, DJ-ing and making my own music using software/technology.
I like outdoor activities such as camping, bushcraft, and going on walks.
I like swimming and going to the gym.
I like to go to the cinema, bowling and eating out.

What are your plans after GCSEs?

I have been given conditional offer at college to study Music Technology so if I get the grades I will be going to Access Creative which is the college the Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora and Jess Gylnn graduated from. I'm really excited to start college.

What sports do you enjoy most? Do you participate with a mainstream club or specialised club?

I go to a mainstream swim club and I have personal training sessions at 2 different mainstream gyms. Before my GCSE exams, I was going to wheelchair rugby but I have taken a break due to my exams and a very busy summer but hope to start back in September. 

As I will have more spare time when I start college, I plan to look into other clubs that I can join as I really enjoy sports and being active.

Kurda, when was the first time Ary joined an out of school sport club?

Ary started at different clubs from a young age. He was around 4 when he started a drama and musical theatre group. However, they wouldn't let us stay to support him and I found that he wasn't being included. He then joined a music school which was very inclusive and would often give him lead parts in productions. They also insisted on us being there with Ary at all sessions. Another music school we attempted and went for a trial at made us feel so discriminated against that my daughter walked out in tears as the owner handed out participation certificates to everyone except Ary! Most gyms and swim clubs have always been very inclusive but we have struggled to find mainstream clubs that are inclusive in some fields such as tennis, trampoline or athletics. I think it's more to do with lack of knowledge on how activities can be adapted to make them accessible and fear of the unknown rather than discrimination. 

Ary has also been to wheelchair basketball and walker football specialist clubs but we had to stop these as they were so far away from us and a huge commitment in terms of time.

Ary, how do you feel about participation in sports for a person with disabilities?

I think people with disabilities think that many sports are not suitable or accessible for them so don't even attempt them which I think is really sad. Also, people providing the sports think that disabled people don't want to or can't take part. This isn't true. Disabled people want and need to be active and enjoy taking part in sport.

What do you think, as a society, we can do to improve participation in sports for people with disabilities?

I think people need to change their mindset and realise many people with disabilities want to do sport and be active. There needs to be more training to teach people how to adapt different sports for different disabilities. 

There also needs to be lots more opportunities for specialised clubs in every area. There also needs to be more disabled role models in the media.

Kurda, you must be immensely proud of Ary. Thinking of when he was first born or diagnosed with cerebral palsy and now, how do you feel and what do you think about the whole journey?

Obviously getting diagnosis of a life limiting illness for your child is not what anyone wants to hear. From a very young age it was very clear that Ary had immense determination and a great sense of humour. We knew that with the grace of God and his personality, things would be ok. 

In the early days of his diagnosis, when it felt like every day we were getting more and more bad news about how PVL (Periventricular Leukomalacia)/ CP would affect him in the future, it was really tough but Ary's infectious smile and determination kept us going. 

It makes me smile when people say what good parents we must be to have raised Ary into who he is because in actual fact, it feels like he raised us. He taught us how to be patient, how to persevere, and how to make the best out of any bad situation.

We've been extremely fortunate in our journey to have met the most incredible people that have helped us and Ary along the way. Ary started going to NICE from the age of 10 months and it was there they instilled the importance of independence into him. It was such a lovely environment to grow up in and I firmly believe they also helped shape Ary into the happy and determined young man he is today.

Going to University of Birmingham School has also been amazing for Ary. They have been terrific in building his confidence and instilling a love of learning in him.

Life is very different to how we were told it would be. We were told Ary would never read or write, that he'd be confined to a wheelchair and we'd never be able to have a meaningful relationship with him. Ary has proven that with faith, hard work and determination, you can overcome anything.

It's been an incredible journey. Every day Ary amazes us, fills our hearts with joy and pride and every day we thank God that he chose us to be Ary's family. 

Final Thoughts

It is really great to hear how Ary has defied expectations to be a positive and capable young man. It is great that he found inclusive mainstream clubs where he can take part in the sports he likes and I wish him all the very best for his future and that he will enjoy and excel in the music technology course. Although there are many clubs who welcome and include people with disabilities, it's clear there is still more work to be done. 

Celebrating Success

This month I am particularly proud of my own son, Sean, who has achieved 100m distance badge. Sean has Down Syndrome. I think it is fairly well known that most people with Down Syndrome have learning difficulties, language and communication delays and some health issues. However, it is less well known that they have low muscle tones and as a result problems with fine and gross motor difficulties. I remember when he started school, he could not do simple tasks such as opening a water bottle because of floppy fingers. He started to learn swimming when he was about four years old and the progress was slow until we found a mainstream swim school that welcomed him. He struggled with back stroke because of a lack of core strength. However, now, at the age of 12, he can do all four strokes. Recently with the encouragement of his swimming teacher, he managed to get the 100m distance badge.

See their abilities not their disabilities

This is all because teachers in one swim school welcomed him and saw past his disabilities. Over the years, I learnt to see what they can do rather than what they can't do. Very often when one mentions disabilities, one will immediately think of what they can't do. For example, someone who is visually impaired cannot see, someone who is paralysed cannot walk, etc. However, this is only part of them and they can do a lot of things. We all know and celebrate those Paralympians. And we all know famous people who have a disability, for example, Lord Blunkett, Lord Shinswin, Stephen Hawking, etc. I am not preaching ableism though. Of course there are people who have disabilities that severely restrict what they can do. However, I believe everyone is precious and everyone can do at least something. You may have someone who cannot walk, talk and has severe learning difficulties but very often he can still brighten your day by having a great smile and zest of life. My daughter's friend has a life limiting condition and disability but she is the most cheerful among her peers and she has such a positive outlook of life.

I am glad that so many organisations up and down the country have already embrace people with disabilities, focus on what they can do and give them opportunities. I hope that many more will follow their examples. 

Boccia is the most inclusive sport you’ll find, and it provides fun for all the family!

It can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, ability, or disability. The game was originally designed for people with cerebral palsy, and for over half of Boccia England's regular players it’s the only sporting option available to them due to the severity of their disability.

Louis Saunders, who recently represented Paralympics GB in Tokyo, said, “I wasn’t strong enough for wheelchair basketball, not fast enough for wheelchair racing, and not agile enough for wheelchair tennis. I love sport, I want to be the best and sadly I didn’t really have that chance, that opportunity, because of the nature of my disability. But that was before boccia, now I’ve been given a chance and I’ve made the most of it.”

Boccia is a target ball sport. From a seated position (and therefore ideal for wheelchair users) players propel balls to land close to a white marker ball – the jack. If you’re unable to grasp and propel a ball a ramp can be used.

It’s an indoor sport, played on a court roughly the same size as a badminton court. You can compete as an individual, in a pair, or as a team of three.

A set of boccia balls consists of one white jack ball, six red balls, and six blue balls. The balls are made of leather filled with tiny plastic pellets and are available in different grades of softness and hardness.

If you don’t have a set of boccia balls and/or you can’t find enough space to play a full game, don’t worry. There are lots of boccia skills challenges you can have a go at from the comfort of your own home and you can start off with general household items – you can even use a rolled-up pair of socks!

If you want to take your involvement further, you’ll find boccia to be a game of skill, precision, and strategy – this was clear to see for anyone who watched David Smith OBE win boccia gold in Tokyo last year!

What is Boccia England?

Boccia England is the charity responsible for the sport in England and they support all levels - from beginners to elite. Boccia England believes that through the power and inspiration of boccia, REAL CHANGE can be achieved for those living with a disability.

It's CEO, Chris Ratcliffe, who has lived experience of disability as a deaf person said: “What’s really unique about boccia is that when disabled people get onto that court and they’re playing their match, they’re completely independent. It’s down to them to make the right call and make the right decisions. It’s so inspiring to see so many people feeling completely liberated through playing boccia.”

Their work includes developing and supporting around 60 boccia clubs across England; working with partners to reach disabled people and older people; engaging children through working with schools; organising competitions in a variety of formats to suit everyone; and identifying and developing talented athletes through the England Talent Pathway.

What do boccia players say?

Azhad, a 20-year-old boccia player from Durham with cerebral palsy said, “Boccia will always be my passion and it has opened a path that I can confidently pursue in the future. It has changed my life and it’s given me opportunities to achieve my personal goals. Boccia gave me a dream to work hard for.”

Sophie, a 23-year-old player and volunteer from Merseyside who has a learning disability said, “Boccia showed me what inclusion is and helped me to help others become part of their own boccia clubs. Since I have started playing boccia, I have made new friends and become more part of society in my own way. It also takes my mind off the thought of having a disability because I am with others who face the same barrier.”

Changing lives through boccia

How can I get involved?

If you would like to play boccia then the best way is to join your local club! There’s a network of boccia clubs across England, and most clubs are open to all ages and abilities.

If you’d like to have a go at boccia at home, you can download resources or watch challenge videos on their YouTube channel.

Boccia England runs competitions across the country, and the Heathcoat Cup which will begin again in autumn 2022 is open to anyone including beginners.

If you are in England, you can join Boccia England as a member. This gives you access to a range of member-only discounts and benefits as well as regular updates and access to their competitions.

Schools can get involved by running boccia activities in PE or even setting up their own clubs.

If you are in other parts of UK, you can have a look at the links:

• Disability Sport Northern Ireland - https://www.dsni.co.uk/performance-sport/boccia
• Scottish Disability Sport - https://boccia.scottishdisabilitysport.com/
• Disability Sport Wales - https://www.disabilitysportwales.com/uploads/boccia/DSW_Boccia_Activities.pdf

How can I support boccia?

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to run clubs, coach players, referee at our competitions, and much more. If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in touch. Around 34% of the volunteers are disabled.

 As a charity, Boccia England relies on the generosity of individuals and organisations to change lives through boccia! If you’d like to be part of this, there are various ways you can support their work:

• Make a donation
• Take part in the a fundraising challenge such as the Superhero Series
• Host a Tea Break – invite friends and family to brew-up and bake for Boccia England
• Adopt Boccia England as your school or workplace charity of the year 

To Learn More

Visit the Boccia England website

Follow them @BocciaEngland on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on LinkedIn, and YouTube.

For more information, email info@bocciaengland.org.uk or call  0115 967 8455.