In the game
Having a disability is no barrier to being athletic
If it wasn’t for Easter Seals NL, Melissa Day says she wouldn’t have much of a social life.
But the organization’s sports and recreation programs have introduced her to a lot of people — and have given her a chance to fulfil a lifelong wish.
“I’ve wanted to play sledge hockey since I was a little girl. I always wanted to try it, and I never had the chance. And then I moved here, and I got the chance,” said Day, who also plays wheelchair basketball.
Originally from Bloomfield, Bonavista Bay, Day has moved around a lot with her military family. When she moved to St. John’s a few years ago from Ontario, she said, she was “baffled” with the lack of accessibility here, but glad to see Easter Seals’ presence in the community.
Now, she said, every recreational activity she takes part in is organized by Easter Seals. Without them, she doesn’t think she’d know where to start to get involved.
Wheelchair basketball is on two nights a week from October to May at Easter Seals House in St. John’s: there’s a recreational game Tuesday nights, and a more competitive game on Wednesdays.
Evan Mullins normally plays on Tuesday nights. He says he’s gotten better since he started and plans to play again next year. Asked what he likes about basketball, he said “shooting, passing, and my friends.” Off the court, he also enjoys a game of darts and bowling.
A few weeks ago, during the last game of the season, the Tuesday night and Wednesday night crowds joined each other on the court. Mullins had a pretty great game; he got the last basket of the night, and people on both teams cheered.
“I didn’t know I was going to get that shot,” he told The Telegram later, smiling.
Other sports
Basketball is just one of the popular sports programs offered by Easter Seals in St. John’s. Sledge hockey, swimming, wall climbing and boccia are also a hit. In the summertime, a few camp options are available, including day camps, overnight camps, family camp and adult camp.
Eileen Bartlett, director of programming, said Easter Seals is proud to have introduced Liam Hickey and Danielle Arbour to wheelchair basketball; both now play with national teams. But the program caters to players of all levels. Arbour and Hickey still come along to shoot hoops with the Easter Seals crowd.
“They just love being on the court with Liam and Danielle. They’re great young people and share that skill and experience with them,” Bartlett said.
Some of the programs wouldn’t work outside of Easter Seals House, so the organization has built partnerships with facilities that fit their needs. Sledge hockey takes place at the Paradise Double Ice Complex, for example, and swimming takes place at the Ches Penney YMCA.
Volunteers are key
Volunteers are crucial to the delivery of these programs. Bartlett said 10 to 15 volunteers come and go throughout the season.
“Volunteers are what makes the wheels move,” Bartlett said. “Without the volunteers, we just wouldn’t have an opportunity to deliver the program. … They’re loyal. Every week, they help set up, they run the drills. Their companionship, their encouragement to the athletes — they’re a great part of the program.”
Tamara Belben of L’anse au Loup is one of those volunteers. When she moved to St. John’s to study kinesiology at MUN, she was keen to get out and volunteer. As it happened, her professor, David Yi, makes volunteering a part of the curriculum. Through the class, she started helping out at wheelchair basketball in January, and kept going after earning her credits.
“I know their names, and I knew that a couple of them were graduating. And they were excited about their dates.
“When you come in, not just are you helping them with their basketball, but you’re also talking to them. And I missed them when I was having to work,” she
said.
Belben, who hopes to become a physiotherapist, said Easter Seals House is definitely one of the more accessible places she’s been to in St. John’s. Since studying under Yi, who puts a lot of emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, she’s been paying attention to how inaccessible many buildings in the capital city are, including at Memorial University.
Yi’s students learn about adapted physical activity in the classroom, on the court, in the pool — all types of settings for recreation.
“The first two to three weeks I talk about meanings of disability, diversity, awareness, those kind of theoretical parts,” he said.
Then he sends his students out into the community to volunteer with groups like Easter Seals and Special Olympics NL.
“Because we live in Newfoundland, we have a lack of human resources,” he said. “Students should do the good work, and they’re learning the real-world experience, but at the same time they are the resources for the community. For example, Special Olympics, they could do two more programs because of my students.”
Coaches for six different parasports — track and field, Trailriders, wheelchair curling, visually impaired curling, boccia and blind soccer — also visit the class as part of the course to give the students some exposure.
Yi said Newfoundland and Labrador does pretty well when it comes to supporting parasports. He mentions swimmer Katarina Roxon, a Paralympic gold medallist, and says he keeps inviting Liam Hickey to come to class, but he’s always busy.
“Parasports are strong, always, and Special Olympics are strong. They have a strong community. But I would say general day-to-day physical activity experiences, that’s lacking. Not sports-specific, but for example, outdoor activity,” he said, adding there are a lot of inaccessible trails and parks.