Scope has celebrated International Day of People with Disability in style with a wide range of events across the state.

From sports and culture to commerce and technology, the day offered something to every one of the people supported by Scope.

Docklands

The festivities kicked off with an Ice Skating and Curling ‘Have a Go Day’ at O’Brien Group Arena.

Dozens of people Scope supports hit the ice in both manual and electric wheelchairs, sharing the ice with 20-year-old Olympic figure skater Brooklee Hun inside the fully-accessible premier Olympic Ice Sports venue.

Ice Sports Victoria President Pam Cavanagh ensured there was a solid representation of sports people as volunteers for the Bank of Melbourne supported event.

“Ice Sports Victoria needed to be more inclusive and to teach the other sports about inclusiveness,” she said.

“We decided to get each sport to send a couple of volunteers – we’ve got representatives from figure skating, speed skating, curling and ice hockey. The hope is they’ll take the messages from days like today and teach the other young athletes coming through.”

Mornington

Wednesday also saw an Access All Abilities event in Mornington. The free event included gymnastics, cricket, soccer, netball, yoga and pilates, illustrating Scope’s mission of enabling people to live as equal and empowered citizens as well as reinforcing the key theme of International Day: encouraging support for the dignity, rights and well-being of people with disability.

Federation Square

December 3 saw International Day of People with Disability hit Federation Square with a pair of events designed to emphasis the themes of progress and inclusion.

The first was the launch of a Key Word Sign iPad app which enables people with a disability to create their own tools for communication. Using the app, people can make their own sign dictionary, and other individualised tools and resources from a vast library, which includes 600 Auslan line drawings, the widget symbol set and the ability to import photos from your camera roll.

The much-anticipated app for people with speech and language difficulties who use Key Word Sign expands on a previous hard copy resource limited to 150 signs.

Federation Square also saw the launch of an exciting new relationship between Scope and T20 Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades. The two organisations came together for a demonstration of modified cricket – a version of cricket for people with disability in which both batting and bowling is remote controlled.

Bendigo

Hargreaves Mall came alive in a day dedicated to International Day of People With Disability. Modified cricket, singing and dancing kept the crowds entertained, with the arrival of RACV Great Victorian Bike Ride participants adding even more colour to proceedings.

Torquay

The Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre hosted a Balloon Football League (BFL) ‘Have a Go Day’ to round out the day’s activities, featuring a match between members of the gun Bendigo side and local councillors and business people. The day was used to promote the new BFL league in the Barwon.