“I forget I have a disability”:
Understanding young peoples’ experiences in disability sport and active recreation in Aotearoa New Zealand. This week, after 3 years and 11 days, I submitted by PhD thesis to the University of Waikato. It has been an amazing journey which allowed me to follow my passion as a practitioner into the academic realm. The abstract below from…
A journey of discovery
They all say doing a PhD is a journey of discovery – both about the topic you are researching and also of yourself. I have been extremely fortunate throughout my journey to have the support of family and friends. All of whom have provided advice, guidance, motivation and enthusiasm at different stages. Many did not…
Hanging with Shuey Rhon Rhon in Beijing
I had the pleasure to represent Paralympics New Zealand at the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing. Having missed the summer games in Tokyo this was an opportunity of a lifetime. The NZ team consisted of 3 athletes – Paralympians Adam Hall #158 and Corey Peters #188, both of whom I watched racing at the…
An historical analysis of disability sport policy in Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract The role of central government in disability sport in Aotearoa New Zealand has never been reviewed in depth. In this paper, drawing on archival data we outline the evolution of disability sport policy, highlighting key initiatives of government sport agencies from 1937 to the contemporary disability sport policy landscape. Evolving with the rise of…
Tokyo, I miss you
As I watch the Paralympics on multiple devices simultaneously from home, I lament not being in Tokyo myself. This games would have marked 20 years since I first experienced a Summer Paralympic Games, and nearly 40 years since I visited Tokyo. At the Sydney 2000 games, I attended my first wheelchair rugby game. I recall…
Inclusive Sport – It’s not rocket science … but should it be?
Research Participants Still Needed Last week while I was at the Halberg Games I looked around at all the young athletes participating and realised that the vast majority of them were unlikely to participate in sport outside of that delivered by their local regional disability sport organisations, such as dsport. This is why I am…
2021 brings a new journey of discovery
Like most of us, 2021 is heralding a new phase. For me in my research it is time to start collecting my data. During 2020 I used the time during lockdown to focus on my studies. Reading copious amounts of research on disability and seeking out specific work on disability sport helped frame my work…
The beginning of a reflective journey
Starting university research on a topic I have been so close to for many years is an interesting journey. During lockdown I was able to use this enforced time at home to read lots and lots of articles about disability sport. What is interesting is the increasing number of academics who are recognising this is…
Research Participants Wanted – nominations open
Nominations for young people with physical impairments to be part of this research are now open. Parents/caregivers are invited to nominate any young person aged 10-14 years who has a physical impairment and is actively engaged in sport or active recreation. A recruitment questionnaire has been designed to help me find 4 or 5 young…
Welcome to “we’re not on the sideline, we are in the team”
In Aotearoa New Zealand disabled young people are under-represented in sport and active recreation. Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) acknowledges this issue and is working on developing policy to address it. I have worked in the disability sport sector for nearly a decade, and while I have observed disabled young people missing out, I have…
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We’re not on the sideline, we are in the team 