00:00Sport is in Australia's DNA but some barriers to participation in the nation's capital risk
00:08leaving keen players on the sidelines. It would definitely be good to try and get some more
00:13people playing because at the moment we've only got six and it's four on each side so we can't
00:18really play any games. If you don't see people in wheelchairs you won't see this sport. So
00:26visibility getting people along knowing that this is part of what Canberra can offer. Jamie
00:32Wolflarson lives with Duchesne muscular dystrophy or DMD a rare progressive disease where the muscle
00:38protecting protein that facilitates motor and organ functions is missing. Four years ago at age 16
00:44Jamie became a full-time power wheelchair user. Those other kids are getting their licenses to
00:50drive cars Jamie was transferring to a power wheelchair. Jamie has represented Canberra at
00:55Nationals twice and when Canberra couldn't field a team he played for Sydney. I guess I like the
01:01freedom and the ease of movement that it allows because like in my wheelchair it's not always like
01:06I can't run around jump around do all that sort of thing. Plenty of other community sporting clubs in
01:12Canberra face similar challenges to power chair football from player recruitment and participation
01:17cost to infrastructure and facilities. The theme that we're getting is most of the sports that are in
01:23the ACT due to a bit of a boom in participation are struggling with access issues but sports that
01:29you don't hear about like parkour and power chair football they don't have a natural fit and are
01:35always trying to find spaces between the gaps. Jamie and his mum hope the inquiry will mean less energy
01:41spent on finding space and more on balance. Not think about disability just play. The same sporting
01:47chance for all.
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