Day: December 4, 2025

Three in four autistic children want to play more sport but avoidable barriers stand in their way

A smiling teenager with long light-brown hair tied back sits indoors wearing a dark T-shirt, with a softly focused lounge room and wooden table in the background.

Autistic teenager Hayley loves dancing, but the bright lights, noise and fast pace of studio classes can be exhausting, even when everything looks fine on the surface. At home, with the furniture pushed aside, dance feels natural and joyful, yet the effort to keep up and mask their struggles often leads to days of recovery.

New research from the Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice shows many autistic children and adults feel the same way: they want to be more active, but face barriers like overwhelming environments, rigid programs and limited autism-informed coaching. For Hayley, dance is still life-changing, building confidence and happiness despite the toll.

“We’ve come so far”: Davidson on the evolution of wheelchair tennis

A wheelchair tennis player in a white shirt and cap leans forward on an outdoor hard court, extending a racquet to hit a yellow tennis ball, with strong sunlight casting shadows and a dark blue backdrop behind them.

From a late start and a decade away from the game, Heath Davidson has risen to become a four-time Australian Open wheelchair doubles champion and former world No. 3 singles player. His story is grounded in resilience, using tennis to turn his life around and become a strong advocate for disability inclusion on and off the court. Marking International Day for People with Disability, he highlights how wheelchair tennis is increasingly integrated with the wider sport, from shared training environments with able-bodied players to initiatives like the Australian Open Wheelchair Championships and All Abilities Week. Looking ahead to a record 2026 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Summer Series, with inclusive events in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and at the Australian Open, Davidson says the sport has “come so far”, and that, above all, he simply loves playing tennis.

Governments must increase investment into Para sport urges IPC

Six presenters stand side by side on a blue stage in front of a large screen reading “Future in Play – International Forum on Inclusive Sport and Physical Education,” with the UNESCO and CAF logos at the top; one person uses a power wheelchair, and all are wearing event lanyards under bright overhead stage lighting.

At UNESCO’s Future in Play: International Forum on Inclusive Sport and Physical Education in Santiago, Chile, last week, International Paralympic Committee Deputy CEO Kristina Molloy called on governments to boost investment in Para sport to advance social inclusion.

Speaking to ministers, sport leaders, and educators from around the world, Molloy highlighted how the Paris 2024 Call to Action can guide governments in breaking down barriers and achieving meaningful disability inclusion in sport and education.

The Paris 2024 initiative (developed by the IPC and UNESCO) offers a roadmap for collective action, urging investment in accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, stronger data, and diverse media representation. Molloy emphasised that progress relies on collaboration between governments, international bodies, and the Paralympic Movement to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

Boccia: the most inclusive sport in the world and a leader in integrity

A boccia athlete in a powerchair lines up a shot using a head pointer and ramp, while a support person in a NSW team shirt steadies the ramp and another athlete looks on in the background at an indoor boccia competition.

Boccia is one of the world’s most inclusive sports, created specifically for athletes with high support needs and offering a genuine pathway to belong, compete and excel. On International Day of People with Disability, Sport Integrity Australia highlights how Boccia Australia has a strong integrity culture, safeguarding practices and a deeply supportive community are making the sport safer and more accessible for some of Australia’s most vulnerable athletes.

From Paralympian Daniel Michel finding a sport “for people exactly like me”, to coaches, referees and volunteers who prioritise safety, education and respect, boccia shows what is possible when a sport is built for inclusion from the start. Events such as national championships and international tournaments on home soil are opening doors for more athletes to participate without the significant barriers of long-distance travel.