SOAKING up the sun at Speers Point on Tuesday, over 100 people living with a disability converged at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility for the annual Abilities Unleashed Sports Day.
Both school-aged children and adults had the chance to try out a range of sports including cricket, soccer, touch football, taekwondo, karate, walking football, rugby league and pickleball.
The day run in conjunction with Disability Sports Australia and Lake Macquarie City Council promotes pathways for inclusion in sport and encourages people with disability to participate in community sport and active recreation regularly.
Abilities Unleashed community officer, Paralympian and Para Matilda, Rae Anderson was down at the event on September 17 and said it was one of the biggest days of the year.
"Lake Macquarie has such a huge disability community with lots of sport and recreational opportunities. It's really great for people with disabilities to come and have a go at some of these programs and learn about the modifications available to them," she said.
"They can try today and we hope they stay involved in the community to participate in these sports ongoing."
Students from Whitebridge High School, Hunter Sports High, Lake Macquarie High, Hunter River Community School, Mount View High, Newcastle Senior School and Newcastle Junior School participated in the day.
Year 7 Whitebridge High student Olivia Elvins attends her school's special education unit - Malang Academy - which means "together" in Awabakal language.
She has only ever played school sports but after today she has built up the confidence to potentially branch out and try something new.
"I played pickleball, soccer and rugby league. Soccer was my favourite," she said.
Olivia said she also enjoyed the opportunity to meet others living with a disability and trying new things.
Whitebridge High teacher Jessie Henderson said it was important to get the students out and engaging with the broader community.
"It's about offering them opportunities to be able to access these kinds of services and venues also for when they transition outside of school. Plus it is a lot of fun," she said.
Almost one in five Australians lives with disability, and 75 per cent of people with disability say they want to take part in more sport and active recreation.
Service providers on the day were Sunnyfield, Allambi Care, ConnectAbility Australia, Live Your Best Life and Aruma.
