People from Keon Park Learning and Lifestyle hub, QArt Gallery artists and Kew social enterprise employees had a ball at the Australian Open (AO) on Tuesday 23 January.
They were invited to attend the AO All Abilities Day, which showcases and celebrates the many tennis pathways available for people with disability in a safe and inclusive environment.
These include Wheelchair Tennis, Blind and Low Vision Tennis (BLV), Deaf and Hard of Hearing Tennis (DHOH), and tennis for Players with an Intellectual Impairment (PWII).
Tennis is a sport that is truly open for all, with a wide range of pathways available for people of all abilities.
— Tennis Australia’s Head of Players with a Disability, Danielle Gescheit
People we support enjoyed watching top players from across the Wheelchair, DHOH, PWII and Para Standing pathways play in an exhibition match on Kia Arena. Players included former world number one, Dylan Alcott, and comedian, Adam Hills.
After the exhibition match, Dylan and Adam spoke at a post-match conference and answered questions from the audience.
Matthew from Keon Park was thrilled to ask a question. He even scored a photo with Adam post-conference. Definitely one for the memory books!
Click below to watch a highlight reel from the day (1 min), which features QArt artist and tennis star, Sarah Gibson, reflecting on her experiences of winning gold and silver medals for tennis at two successive Special Olympics events internationally.
Australian Open 2023 will host the first-ever tennis tournaments for international people with intellectual disability and Deaf peoples – to be played from 27-29 January at Melbourne Park.
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