From isolation to empowerment: Mark's journey to freedom through inclusive sports
He received a diagnosis of Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia (YOLBD), following an earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
His long career as a firefighter came to an abrupt end, and hobbies he once cherished, such as riding motorbikes, became suddenly out of reach.
'That's what the doctor told me — unfortunately, you won't be able to do your job anymore, and you can't drive home,' recalls Stephenson.
'In an instant, my life, which was once filled with activity and purpose, became very small.'
When a person is diagnosed with both Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's disease, often symptoms are overlapping, complicating their management.
Experts suggest this combination diagnoses may result in a quicker deterioration of cognitive and motor functions.
Patients face a range of symptoms including physical stiffness, tremors, memory loss and hallucinations.
Stephenson found himself in the grips of despair, feeling directionless and isolated.
'I made endless phone calls to charities and local organisations hoping to volunteer or find recreational activities, but I was turned away every time,' he explained.
'Each rejection felt harder to cope with than the initial diagnosis.
'It was disheartening, causing me to retreat further into myself.'
Everything changed when he stumbled upon a social media post from Sporting Wheelies, an organisation focused on promoting inclusive sports for individuals with disabilities.
Encouraged by his wife, he decided to give wheelchair basketball a try, despite his fears of being rejected again.
'The first time I sat in that sports wheelchair, I felt a rush of freedom — the kind I hadn't felt in years.
'I called it my 'motorbike feeling.
'It was a game changer,' he shares, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
'Upon arrival, I was welcomed by a diverse group of people, all unified by a shared love for sport.
'Once in the chair, no one noticed it; we were simply a group of individuals playing basketball together.'
Stephenson's journey reveals a broader issue: while over 1 in 5 Australians live with a disability — approximately 5.5 million people — opportunities to engage in sports are still limited.
According to Dane Cross, Chief Operating Officer of Sporting Wheelies, only 25 per cent of people with disabilities currently participate in sports, despite 75 per cent expressing a strong desire to get involved.
'The reality is there aren't enough accessible sports programs, particularly in regional areas,' Cross states.
'Many clubs lack the resources and knowledge to be truly inclusive, making it difficult for individuals to engage fully in sports activities.'
Barriers extend beyond physical access; ingrained societal attitudes and stereotypes also play a role.
'Many people with disabilities aren't seen as athletes,' Cross points out.
'Changing community perceptions is crucial for fostering an inclusive sporting environment.'
Organisations like Sport4All are also working towards dismantling these barriers, providing training and support to community sports clubs to ensure they can accommodate individuals with varying abilities.
National Manager of Sport4All, Carl Partridge, emphasises understanding the spectrum of disabilities is essential for creating inclusive environments.
'Disability isn't always visible,' he said.
'Financial constraints and preconceived notions can unintentionally exclude many individuals from participating in sports.'
Stephenson's involvement in sports has not just provided an opportunity for physical activity, it has also delivered a renewed sense of purpose and connection.
'Through sport, I discovered a supportive community,' he added, reflecting on his experiences with Sporting Wheelies.
'I found friends and purpose again, which has been invaluable for my mental health.'
Today, he actively participates in wheelchair basketball, cricket, and AFL, reclaiming his joy, confidence, and meaningful connections.
As the financial year ends, Sporting Wheelies urges Australians to donate before June 30.
Every contribution is 100 per cent tax-deductible.
'Every gift helps! With the right support, we can bring inclusive sport to communities, but we can't do it alone,' said Cross.
'$500 trains a Disability Sport Officer. $1000 helps bring a new sport to a remote town.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Scientists reveal groundbreaking way to predict diabetes risk at birth
Don't miss out on the headlines from Diabetes. Followed categories will be added to My News. DNA from a newborn's cord blood may help predict if they will develop type 2 diabetes as adults. In a new study by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, cord blood from 112 babies was analysed and found to accurately identify those at risk. The babies' mothers had elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. 'We know children born to mothers with elevated blood glucose and gestational diabetes during pregnancy face a greater risk of developing metabolic disorders like type-2 diabetes later in life,' study co-lead Sam El-Osta said. More than 1.2 million Australians are living with type 2 diabetes, which has strong genetic links and environmental influences. 'Until now, identifying children most at risk has been difficult, and existing tools, such as birth weight, fat mass or cord blood insulin, have been limited in their ability to predict later life development of the disease,' Professor El-Osta said. He said the success of the study means that clinicians will have a test that can determine future health problems to take steps earlier to reduce risks. 'This is the first time we've shown that epigenetic signals in cord blood can forecast long-term metabolic health. It changes the way we think about when, and how early, we can intervene to prevent chronic disease later in life.' Professor El-Osta, head of the Baker Institute's epigenetics team, led the study with Professor Ronald Ma from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He said the team was able to show that the epigenetic signatures in cord blood improved prediction of metabolic disease by 79 per cent compared to traditional clinical markers like fat mass. Epigenetic signatures are like notes on the DNA that influence how strongly genes are turned on or off. These changes can also happen due to diet, stress and blood sugar levels during pregnancy. 'Clinicians have long suspected that maternal blood sugar could have a lasting imprint on the unborn child and future generations,' Professor El-Osta said. 'And what this research has shown is that through these changes to the DNA, we can actually predict those vulnerable of future risk of diabetes.' He said gestational diabetes and other forms of high blood sugar complicated nearly one in six pregnancies worldwide. 'Children exposed to high blood sugar before birth face higher risks of obesity and diabetes later in life, but doctors have struggled to determine which newborns are most vulnerable,' he said. The children in this study were born in Hong Kong and had their blood collected at birth and were then tracked at ages seven, 11 and 18 years. 'From our point of view it's a new approach to prevention. It isn't invasive, a child won't need a heel prick and there is no need to take any additional blood from mum. 'Cord blood is analysed and could one day be added to newborn screening programs offering a way to flag children at higher risk of metabolic dysfunction decades before the disease develops.' Professor El-Osta said the team now hopes to replicate the study in Australia. The results of the study were published on Thursday in the Diabetes Journal and show for the first time that epigenetic markers found in cord blood can help assess long-term metabolic dysfunction, early signals of future diabetes risk. Australian Diabetes Society CEO Sof Andrikopoulos said it significantly progresses the understanding of how high blood glucose during pregnancy can predispose children to future risk of diabetes.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Australians horrified after woman finds maggots in a supermarket bread roll
Australians have been left horrified after a woman found maggots inside her Woolworths bacon and cheese roll. The woman. Maureen, was visiting her 22-year-old son in Darwin and decided to purchase a bacon and cheese roll - his favourite snack. But as he ate it, Harry and Maureen were horrified to find a maggot had dripped out onto Harry's phone. A consumer advocacy group has posted a shocking video to TikTok after Woolworths failed to act on a consumer complaint regarding the incident. In the video Harry went on to discover that the entire batch was infested with maggots. Speaking to Maureen said that she was horrified by the discovery. 'He started eating them and then when he got to the third one, a maggot dropped out on his phone,' she said, adding that he nearly threw up. The comments on TikTok - posted by the @resolvewithajust account - were scathing of Woolworths. "I would report it to the health department," one said. Another said 'They [Woolworths] don't care.. this was cheese from woolies a few months back and they wanted a receipt to return it" - while posting a photo of a block of cheddar cheese covered in black mould. One commentor quipped that at least the roll was "packed with protein." In a statement to a spokesman for Woolworths said that they were taking the situation seriously. 'We have apologised to the customer for their experience and we are not aware of any further reports of a similar nature at this time,' the spokesperson said. But Maureen said that when she did not hear anything back from Woolworths, she used the Ajust service - a consumer advocacy service powered by artificial intelligence. After Ajust sent a complaint to Woolworths, the supermarket chain added that the rolls had been baked in Sydney and shipped frozen to Darwin, but offered no refund or financial compensation to Maureen.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Albanese government to overhaul NDIS and remove kids with autism in plans to cut growth of scheme
Children with mild autism and developmental delays will be removed from the ballooning NDIS and placed in a new capped program, as the Federal Government tries to rein in cost blowouts. Health Minister Mark Butler on Wednesday announced as part of an overhaul 'tens and tens of thousands' of Australian kids will be pulled out of the system and placed in a 'Thriving Kids' initiative. It will allow for specialised education programs and foundational supports, which will be funded equally by the States and the Commonwealth. Mr Butler said the Federal Government would be responsible for the program and would lead it with a $2 billion investment. Mr Butler said including autistic children in the NDIS was driving unsustainable cost blowouts and leaving them in a system that wasn't designed for them — but was not 'the only port in the storm'. He told a National Press Club address the scheme was designed for permanent disability and children with moderate needs were being 'overserviced' under it. 'I know this will be hard for some parents to hear and I don't say it lightly, but we do need … to create a better system that will enable our children to thrive,' he said. 'Young children with more mild and moderate levels of developmental delay or autism are on a scheme, frankly, because there's nothing else. 'Over the coming months, we will work with the community to design a system to support 'Thriving Kids' and how best to invest the Commonwealth's $2 billion provision. 'States are obviously going to be key partners, having committed to share funding equally. 'They hold so many of these levers but so will service providers and importantly, parents themselves. 'We're keen to step up and lead the work in designing that program, because it should be a nationally consistent program.' He said it did not mean everyone with autism would be removed from the scheme and it was still intended those with permanent and significantly disabling autism would remain with the NDIS. Mr Butler said he would consult and work with providers and parents to come up with a more adequate model, with an aim for the 'Thriving Kids' program to begin in July. 'The ramp up of services and supports will be completed over the following 12 months, when access changes to the NDIS will take effect in mid 2027,' he said. Mr Butler said while health programs like Medicare, the PBS and NDIS make Australian lives better, they can 'operate on a set and forget basis'. 'They all require constant vigilance to ensure that they are delivering for Australians who need them, but also represent value for money for taxpayers who fund them,' he said. 'That approach will be the approach that will guide how we secure the future of Australia's NDIS.' He will also look to schools to play a more 'coordinated role' in supporting children with a range of needs, including ADHD and autism and explore creating a national online information service for parents — similar to one announced earlier this year for Medicare. Mr Butler also said the Government was eyeing an ambitious target of keeping NDIS cost growth to between five and six per cent per year. In 2023, the National Cabinet agreed to get growth down to 8 per cent as an 'interim target' by 2026, but it's been a struggle. Though Mr Butler acknowledged some 'promising signs' of reducing the growth, he admitted everything 'needs to go right to avoid us slipping off that target'. 'Reforms to plan budgets and inflation are starting to work, but growth in new participant numbers remains high,' he said. 'Last week's quarterly report from the agency revealed 12 per cent growth in participant numbers in 2024-25 — much higher than the previous year, reminding us that there is still much to do even to achieve that eight per cent target.' 'But 8 per cent growth is simply unsustainable in the medium- to long-term. 'I'm determined to pursue that next wave of reform. 'The scheme is now pretty much fully rolled out, so growth should really reflect unit price inflation plus growth in Australia's population. 'In nominal terms, that would hover around 4 or 5 per cent on top of that. 'On top of that, we should allow an inflator that reflects the aging of participants in the scheme, which might add up to another one per cent.' It comes after a Productivity Commission report in 2017 had suggested that a growth rate of about 4 per cent would be appropriate after the scheme was fully rolled out in 2020.
