Call for sports clubs to get behind MAY Day

The call is out for all Wanganui sports and recreation clubs who care about and welcome disabled members to get behind Disability MAY Day 2013.

The Disability May Affect Your (MAY) Day is being held on Friday, May 10 this year.

But this year, the usual expo involving disability information at the Wanganui War Memorial Hall will not be held.

Instead, there will be a week-long awareness campaign featuring open days for local sport and recreation clubs.

Guest speaker Jen Birch will talk about her journey through with Asperger's Syndrome and her book, Congratulations! It's Asperger's.

The organisers Whanganui Disability Resources Centre, Carla Langmead's Coaching for Health, and John Sigurdsson of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation's community programme AllSports - are your points of contact to be part of the event.

The idea is to offer clubs support by educating their volunteers about disability awareness, giving advice around building access, support with specialised equipment if needed and assistance in running Have a Go events.

"We are celebrating the inclusion of disabled people in our community," said Sigurdsson.

"We also celebrate people, clubs and community groups that already offer opportunities for disabled people."

So far, more than 15 sport and recreation organisations are taking part, including Sport Wanganui.

Birch, who after many hardships was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at age 43, will give her talk on May 9, from 5pm to 6pm at the Community House conference room at 60 Ridgway St.

To get your club involved with MAY Day, please contact John Sigurdsson on (06) 759 0930 ext 728 or 021 190 4881, or email johns@halberg.co.nz.

For all other information, please contact Marian Dean, (06) 347 1176 or mariand@whanganuidrc.org.nz.