Wheelchair basketball, WTF?

[BelleClapper]

DS(9) had sports day today. He’s just come running out of school asking if we can buy a wheelchair because he’s enjoyed playing wheelchair basketball this afternoon.

I’m a bit at a loss. They 100% do not have a wheelchair user in their class. How is this an ok thing? All he’s going on about is how much fun it is and that he wants to get a wheelchair.

Am I missing something? What’s the benefit of this? This just feels like weird disability appropriation for fun. Like LARPing at being disabled.

Our local wheelchair basketball team has people who don’t ordinarily use wheelchairs. I don’t think they’d be able to run the team without them joining in.

Kids love using mobility aids - wheelchairs, crutches, etc. As a previous poster said, any chance to try out a wheelchair is exciting for them. When my daughter had crutches for a broken ankle when she was 7, she threw the mother of all tantrums when I took them back to the loan department at the hospital right before a birthday party. Even though she was in a walking boot by that time and hadn't needed the crutches for a couple of weeks, she'd been planning to bring them out for the party and was desperately excited for all the attention she thought they would get her.

And while I don't think that non-disabled people are going to be competing in the paralympics, non-disabled people using a wheelchair to play basketball normalises the use of mobility aids and can also make sure the games happen - being a wheelchair basketball player is all well and good until you can't actually make up the numbers to have a game.

Also want to add that in completely in awe of people who play wheelchair sports and perform in the paralympics - the extra strength/skill it must take not to mention the overcoming of the mental and physical barriers is nothing short of astounding. I find it extremely moving - when Ellie Simmonds won Gold for swimming in the Beijing paralympics I cried my eyes out.

"I’m not outraged confused"

You sound it!

It raises awareness not only of disability but of the fact that disabled doesn’t mean unable, iyswim.

A lot of people think that paralympics are somehow second class sports and that not as much effort is required when this is categorically not the case.

His asking if you could get a wheelchair reminds me of a child we saw at the bus stop a few years ago who said to my DS “I wish I was blind like your mum,” I asked why and he said, “Then I could have a nice dog like that one.” 😂

I can see it being surprising for a child to come out asking for a wheelchair, but if they've been trying wheelchair basketball, I don't think it's that surprising that some of the kids want one.

I remember way back when I was in school, there was something similar followed by a charity challenge organized by some of the students who used mobility devices and the SEN staff where a few able students in each grade used a wheelchair for a school day, had to do challenges and stuff to raise money for new equipment. It created a lot of interesting conversations.

I understand the LARPing as disabled comment, but I kinda wish there was a way to reduce that concept much as many have moved towards using accessible rather than specfically disabled. Both my spouse and I have needed them at times, and there has always been that 'am I disabled enough' and pushing well past what I should have when really, they're tools that make some things easier and some things more awkward depending on body and environment.

I mean, when people are wearing costumes or fashion with glasses with no prescription lens - sometimes actually LARPing - few would make comments on the seriousness of visual impairments. I wish socially there was less seriousness of using other aides, which is what glasses are.

We have a charity that come in every year and run a wheelchair basketball day for loads of our kids.

It’s to raise awareness and for the kids to enjoy something new.

I’ve arranged it numerous years.

As a full time wheelchair user I think it is nice!

What a brilliant idea. Fun and inclusive. They'll remember this far more than any classroom lesson they'll ever have on the subject.

How anyone can get upset enough about this to start a thread on MN is beyond me.

Abled bodied people can play wheelchair basketball. It’s a very good game full of drama.

Jesus wept how can you get upset by this.

Your son has clearly missed the point of the lesson . Maybe call the school to find out what they were actually taught so you can drive home the message.

Again, I’m not upset. I was confused about the point of it and a bit thrown by DS wanging on at me to buy him a wheelchair.

Lots of my queries about it have been answered, which was the point of my posting.

I think it's amazing tbh. It's great awareness, plus if you compare how many viewers the Paralympics gets compared to Olympics then it's great that kids see it's still fun and nothing to be afraid of.

@moynomore

But he’s just taken from it that wheelchairs are fun and he wants one.

But, what would you prefer he take from it? That being in a wheelchair is a horrible affliction worthy of pity?

Agree with this.

If your son had come out of school having done climbing on a mobile wall and then wanted his own mobile wall would you also think ‘WTF’?

I think it’s a great message to normalise being in a wheelchair and about levelling the playing field - irrespective of whether there’s a wheelchair user in the school community or not.

theconversation.com/think-disability-is-a-tragedy-we-pity-you-82047

That's probably what my son would be asking for as well.

Also, when he was about 4 I think, he was absolutely distraught during a swimming lesson that he couldn't take a woman's crutches as he was convinced they would help him walk on water .

Tbf I probably would be quite if my DC wanted to buy a climbing wall or a wheelchair due to cost. But it’s an easy “no”!

Wheelchair fencing definitely involves athletes who don't exclusively use wheelchairs, including amputees and those with some degree of cerebral palsey meaning they can't move well enough to be competitive but still walk for "every day" activities. I think the classifications depend on whether you have just lower body impairment or upper body as well - there's a pretty famous Italian fencer (Bébé (Beatrice) Vio who is a quadruple amputee and Olympic champion at the more disabled category.

I trained against some wheelchair fencers and was soundly beaten - refereeing at wheelchair fencing is different and very quick too.

It's quite normal for the smaller sports to mix categories for training - plus increases awareness as well. The main limit to full integration in fencing is that most clubs would struggle to afford the frames which are £££ so training is largely limited to bigger centres.

@BelleClapper

I mean, it’s entirely possible that DS has just missed the point. And I get the idea about normalising disability.

But he’s just taken from it that wheelchairs are fun and he wants one. It doesn’t sound like they had any sort of talk attached to it but maybe he just didn’t listen

This is where you come in as the parent. Discuss disability issues with him.

It’s not LARPING at being disabled. The aim is to try and get the kids to realise how fucking difficult it is being wheelchair bound and how utterly amazing the disabled Olympians truly are given.

By the way no one is wheelchair bound even if the media still
Insist on using it in 2021 so not blaming you. But wheelchair user is much better. No one goes around shouting She SHOE BOUND she can’t leave the house without wearing shoes. yet when someone needs wheelchair get from A-B it’s bound!

You can leave the house without shoes and still walk. If you can’t get anywhere without a wheelchair then you are bound.
My grandmother with one leg never got upset by the term bound.

I think of you asked many wheelchair users me included it’s incredible old fashioned and offensive but you as non disabled person are free use what you wish. Your granny was of a different age.
P.s most people would not get far without shoes so your argument doesn’t really stand up much.

It would be odd if there was no one to explain why people need to use a wheelchair.

Our school recently had a full day with a guy who was paralised and started to play wheelchair basketball. He gives a talk about resilience and overcoming obstacles while at the same time raising awareness of people with disabilities. The kids loved the day and him.

@Fangsalot89

You can leave the house without shoes and still walk. If you can’t get anywhere without a wheelchair then you are bound. My grandmother with one leg never got upset by the term bound.

Wanker

they offer these sports wheel chairs at my local rec center. i see large groups of able bodied and those with challenges playing basketball regularly. nice that they can put together enough equipment to field a couple teams and can play together.