21/04/2025
After reading the article in The West Australian about Juliette Mason, who was excluded from an athletics event because Athletics WA wasn’t inclusive, I wanted to share a little about what inclusion in sport actually looks like—and what it definitely doesn’t.
All-abilities teams can be amazing—when kids choose them. Some children thrive with modified games, extra support, or smaller groups. But these programs shouldn’t be the default just because mainstream clubs haven’t figured out how to be inclusive. You don’t get to start an all-abilities group and then tick the “inclusive club” box—inclusion isn’t something you delegate, it’s something you do.
Inclusion means neurodivergent kids are genuinely welcome on every team, in every game, and at every comp. That takes a little effort—coaches learning how to adapt instructions, understanding sensory needs, offering support—but the payoff? Huge. Kids feel like they belong, and everyone grows from the experience.
Because here’s the thing: when we segregate neurodivergent kids, everyone misses out. Coaches miss the chance to build inclusive skills, teams miss the beauty of diverse friendships, and clubs miss the opportunity to lead real change. And honestly? That’s a pretty big loss—for the child and the community.
If we want kids to grow up believing everyone deserves a place on the team, we need to show them that now.
Seen a club doing this well? Give them a shout out in the comments and let us know what awesome inclusive practice you’ve spotted!