Disabled community invited to strike out

LET'S BOWL: Gaylene van Wijk (left), CCS Disability Action Wairarapa, and disability advocate Vanessa Jibran plan to start a bowling league for people with disabilities in the region.

Two Masterton women hope to get Wairarapa's disabled population more involved in the community -- one strike at a time.

Disability advocate and Wairarapa Community Centre volunteer Vanessa Jibran, with support from CCS Disability Action Wairarapa community support manager Gaylene van Wijk, is planning to start up a 10 pin bowling league for people for disabilities.

Ms Jibran was a member of a 10 pin bowling team set up for CCS clients which met regularly at Masterbowl, but it ended after the support workers in charge moved on.

She hoped to revive the league, as it helped improve clients' social skills and physical fitness -- but open it up any Wairarapa residents living with a physical, intellectual, sensory or learning disability.

"[The CCS] league was really successful -- people couldn't wait to come back the next week," Ms Jibran said.

"It gave the clients the chance to socialise, make new friends, and get out and about.

"It really helped build their confidence."

Mrs van Wijk said Wairarapa had a particularly high number of people living with disabilities -- 20 per cent of the population (more than 11,000 people), compared with 24 per cent nationally.

She said regular social activities were important, as people with disabilities tended to isolate themselves due to physical barriers and societal attitudes.

"It's common for people with disabilities not to go out unless they have a reason to," Mrs van Wijk.

"We want people to feel like they can come out and not feel like they're constantly being looked at under the microscope.

"Playing something 'Joe Able' can play gives them that sense of normality."

"We want to show the public that we're not afraid to get out there and give it a go," Ms Jibran added.

She and Mrs van Wijk said the new league would have a big emphasis on fun, rather than competition -- and will incorporate activities such as doing a "Michael Jackson" dance for every strike, and encouraging members to bring their own cheerleaders.

"It's all about participation," Ms Jibran said.

"Last time, you could see the joy on people's faces when they got a strike - and everyone would cheer each other on."

Mrs van Wijk said she and Ms Jibran would be seeking funding to cover the cost of lane bookings at Masterbowl. The former CCS participants had received funding from the H E Fairey Family Trust.

For more information, contact Vanessa Jibran on 021 261 4901, or Gaylene van Wijk on 06 378 2426.