Children with autism and other disabilities took over the Hockey Turf at the Wildey Gymnasium on Sunday as families gathered for a vibrant Fun Day aimed at building inclusion through sport.
The event, hosted by IncludeU Sports Academy (IUSA) in partnership with the Autism Association, is part of a broader push for Autism Awareness Month activities across April.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IUSA, Akeem Rudder said the initiative goes beyond play.
Akeem Rudder founder and CEO of IncludeU Sports Academy. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“This event is a part of an initiative we do every year where we have open play activities for children with disabilities, mainly kids with autism, and we want to give them opportunities to be a part of physical activities.
“The idea is to get more children with disabilities involved in sport and physical activity, so doing more events like this gives parents the confidence to want their child to be out in public, and that’s what we want. We’re striving to create an environment where parents and children with disabilities feel accepted and comfortable,” Rudder said.
From water slides and obstacle courses to football, cricket, badminton, tennis, and motorised ATVs, the space was transformed into what he described as a “safe space” designed to encourage both movement and interaction using sensory play.
Children driving ATVs. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“But the idea is more social interaction and building a community… we can start to build a message of inclusion a lot more,” Rudder added.
Parents, guardians and children of all ages participated throughout the day, reflecting IUSA’s wider mission to provide adaptive and inclusive physical activity for all abilities.
Now in its fifth staging, the sports day continues to grow.
“This is our fifth sports day… we do at least two to three every year,” Rudder noted, highlighting the consistency of the programme.
The Wildey event is the first event in April, with more already planned. A swim workshop is scheduled for April 18, focusing on water safety for both parents and children.
Children making a splash on the water slide. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)
“Children with autism are drawn to bodies of water, so we want to make sure that both the parent and the child have the necessary swim skills,” Rudder said.
The month will conclude with another sports day on April 28, continuing the push to expand access and visibility for children with autism across St Michael and beyond.
(LE)
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