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.

@Akire Odd that you’d assume I’m not disabled.
Ps - I really think you need to ask a lot of people in warmer climates about shoes and accessibility and they will tell you quite happily that it’s common practice to see people shopping without them.

Don’t be so bloody offended by everything.
If you are upset by the term bound then that’s the issue you have between yourself and your chair. It’s not derogatory and certainly wasn’t used in reference to your personal situation.

I think it sounds like an excellent idea. I think there is a widely held view that para-Olympian events such as wheelchair basketball are a second best consolation prize for the poor souls who aren't able to participate in 'proper' sporting events. That they aren't as challenging or as enjoyable as the real thing. This has shown your son that life in a wheel chair can include proper, enjoyable, competitive sport.

Sounds brilliant to me. My 13 year old is physically disabled but not a wheelchair user. He has tried wheelchair tennis and powerchair football at different disability events and really enjoyed it. He would love to do something like this in school and it would be a nice change for him to shine in a pe lesson.

Wheelchairs are fun- they have wheels and can go fast and do wheelies. As a wheelchair user abs former basketball player I’m so happy to hear some schools are now showing children disability sport. When I was that age, all children - and adults did was maybe a fool of us because we couldn’t do anything. Or so they thought. I’m so pleased they are now being taught to be aware of how some people life and that yes we do actually have fun. When I adopted my son age 7 the first thing he said to his social worker was do you think my mum will let me play in her wheelchair? It melted my heart… the children will here with a respect for disability, not fear or be brainwashed