Year seven students from Dimboola Memorial Secondary College experienced playing wheelchair basketball with paraplegic and double amputee sportsman Jason Sleep on Monday afternoon.

Sleep is a presenter with the Wheel Talk School Awareness Program and is a World Slalom water skiing champion, eight times Australian slalom champion and Australian slalom record holder. He also competes in snow skiing and motor bike riding

Above - Jason Sleep with the group of students after their wheelchair basketball game on Monday afternoon.

Sleep explained how he became a paraplegic after a motor bike accident and subsequently lost both legs after a snow skiing accident. He went on to highlight the dangers of some behaviour and resulting injuries that can lead to being confined to a wheelchair.

Since his accident, Sleep has not let his circumstances slow him down, as he continues to water and snow ski and ride a quadbike along with his work talking to school and other not for profit groups.

On the Disability Sport and Recreation website Sleep explains that "to be a Wheel Talk presenter is very satisfying. To share my story and show everyone I am exactly the same as the next person, except I do things a little differently is important.

"To be able to speak, listen and answer questions, then see students' progress in the wheelchairs, is very rewarding."

The WheelTalk School Awareness Program is designed to raise awareness and encourage students to think about acceptance and disability sports. It also aims give a greater understanding of the issues facing people with disabilities.

Following the talk Sleep joined the students and a number of staff members in playing wheelchair basketball in the College's stadium.

This visit was organised by students Kynan Clarke and Will Barker as a VCAL project to educate the students about disabled sport.

Former Kalkee resident and Australian Paralympian wheelchair basketballer Janik Blair also recently visited the College and gave a similar talk a another group of students.


Jason Sleep showing the students how to play wheelchair basketball



Some action from the game



Some more action from the game