Yorkdale Central School currently holds two city championship basketball titles: one for the female team and one for the male. So it鈥檚 safe to say that basketball isn鈥檛 an unfamiliar sport for the kids at that school.
But last week, the kids got to experience the sport from a new perspective 鈥� in wheelchairs.聽
The school鈥檚 gym teacher, Jason Boyda, said he got the idea to put something like this together a couple of years ago.
鈥淚 was at a physical education conference in Saskatoon. One of the sessions was wheelchair athletics, and I thought of Tiffany right away,鈥� said Boyda.聽
Tiffany McLennan, who Boyda is referring to, is a grade eight student at YCS who has spina bifida and is wheelchair-bound.聽
鈥淚 went to the session, and had a great time,鈥� said Boyda. 鈥淚 really appreciated the activities and being involved in the wheelchair, and I thought it would be great for our students to experience what it鈥檚 like from Tiffany鈥檚 perspective.鈥�
He said he hoped the kids could appreciate what Tiffany does in gym class.聽
鈥淲e sometimes modify things for her, but now they鈥檙e able to understand why we do,鈥� said Boyda after the wheelchair basketball sessions.
The sessions were instructed by Katie Miyazaki of the Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association.聽
She explained that she and her trailer full of wheelchairs travel to different schools to raise awareness about the sport and to show that anyone can get involved.
Miyazaki said the reaction is always great.
鈥淭hey just love it. It鈥檚 something new. It鈥檚 great for them to realize how athletic you can be in a wheelchair,鈥� said Miyazaki.
Typically, they visit schools that have students with disabilities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another learning opportunity. And language is very important, especially in society today, so just to teach them a little bit about that, and to not look at them any different,鈥� explained Miyazaki.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for anyone that鈥檚 in a wheelchair because it really puts everyone on a level playing field.鈥�
Tiffany wore a smile across her face as she took part in the sport with her classmates.聽
Afterwards, she said she had a lot of fun.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool that they get to experience what I experience during gym class,鈥� she said.聽
Tiffany also added that she thinks it was much harder for her classmates than they originally anticipated.聽
Boyda said Tiffany was looking forward to the wheelchair basketball sessions since he first mentioned it.
鈥淚 told her about this a month ago and she had a smile on her face. She was so excited to participate and to be a part of it,鈥� he explained. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just a great athlete.鈥澛�
