Christmas is often described as the season of giving, but for many people with disability, inclusion remains a gift they still go without. With over 5.5 million Australians living with disability, early education has become increasingly important in shaping how future generations understand inclusion, accessibility and equality.
In response, Sporting Wheelies has launched its 2025 Christmas Appeal to expand Raising the Bar – an in-school program led by people with disability who share their lived experience, challenge stereotypes, and promote inclusive language through adaptive sport demonstrations like wheelchair basketball.
The program, already making an impact in classrooms across Queensland, is seeking support to reach more regional and rural communities, including those across northern New South Wales and the New England region.
“During the festive season, we talk a lot about generosity and looking out for one another,” says Sporting Wheelies Chief Operating Officer Dane Cross. “Supporting Raising the Bar is a way for Australians to extend that spirit to the next generation. When children learn from people like Jacob, it creates lasting change, not just for Christmas, but for life.”
Among the program’s presenters, known as Game Changers, is Brisbane local Jacob Lake, who lives with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and has sustained over 100 bone fractures throughout his life. Since joining Sporting Wheelies in 2023, Jacob says the program has not only changed how students view disability, but has given him a renewed sense of purpose.
“Kids often look at a wheelchair and assume it means a miserable or limited life,” says Jacob. “I love being able to show them how fun, normal, and active life in a wheelchair can be. Within minutes their whole perspective changes, and that’s something they’ll carry with them forever.”
Jacob first came across Sporting Wheelies while job-hunting, having struggled for months to find work. When he saw the organisation was recruiting Game Changers, he applied with modest expectations – but soon discovered a pathway into meaningful work and community connection.
“At first, it was just about getting a job,” Jacob says. “But now I can confidently say this is the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done. I get to teach, have fun, play wheelchair basketball with the kids, and spread the message that nothing is impossible.”
Sporting Wheelies hopes to bring this message into more schools across regional New South Wales, where access to disability education programs can be limited. Mr Cross says the need for inclusive education has never been more urgent.
“People with disability still face assumptions that limit their opportunities,” he says. “Programs like Raising the Bar give young people the tools to understand disability with empathy rather than fear or pity. It’s transformative, and every donation helps us bring this program to more classrooms, including those in areas like the New England region.”
Jacob, who now plays wheelchair basketball and attends the gym regularly, says he wants students to understand that disability is just one part of a person’s life – not a definition of it.
“A lot of people think disability stops us from doing what we love, but that’s not true,” continues Jacob. “We don’t need pity. We just want the same chance as anyone else to be included. When kids understand that, the world becomes a much more welcoming place.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, Sporting Wheelies relies heavily on community support to fund programs like Raising the Bar. Donations directly support school visits, adaptive sport equipment, and training for Game Changers delivering these vital lessons across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
“This Christmas, every donation helps us give young people the tools to build a kinder and more inclusive future,” Mr Cross says. “It’s a gift that has impact long after the decorations come down.”
To donate or learn more about the Christmas Appeal, visit sportingwheelies.org.au/donate.
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