Bunbury man Curtis Wild and Disability Services Minister Helen Morton.
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SPORTING clubs and recreational facilities across Bunbury will be encouraged to become more inclusive to disabled people with help from a $50,000 government grant.
The City of Bunbury will use the funding to employ a project officer who will identify local sporting and recreational clubs and facilities that could be more accessible to disabilities.
The Disability Services Commission funding is part of a state-wide program called Count Me In.
Disability Services minister Helen Morton was in Bunbury last Friday to announce the funding.
Mrs Morton said people with disabilities had wide-ranging interests and did not want to be excluded from the community.
She said while disability inclusion had not been missing in Bunbury, it was important that it “became commonplace so it was the rule, not the exception”.
Mayor David Smith said the grant was enormously satisfying as the City of Bunbury was already working towards making every member of the community feel accepted.
He said the new position would be advertised as soon as the City had the cheque in its hands.
Curtis keen to try new sports
CURTIS Wild has a passion for physical activity that would rival any 26-year-old man – his five silver medals for ballroom dancing are testament to that.
But the 26-year-old Bunbury man has not always found it easy to get involved in local sporting clubs.
Mr Wild has Down Syndrome and his disability has sometimes been a roadblock to trying new sports and joining teams.
He hopes that a $50,000 grant to boost the inclusion of disabled people in Bunbury sport and recreation clubs will make a difference.
Mr Wild’s mother Angela said there had been barriers to her son’s involvement in local teams.
Mrs Wild said it was important that clubs had members with an understanding of a disabled person’s needs.
She said while her son took part in body boarding, ten pin bowling, cycling and overseas trips, it was often with a group of similarly disabled people.
“I’m not saying a disability can suddenly become normal, but people should start to recognise a disabled person’s capabilities rather than what they can’t do.”