On April 1, 2025, Eastern Michigan University will be bringing people together through an exciting event called Inclusion Day.
According to event coordinator and EMU student Luke Swanson, Inclusion Day will give people of all abilities the opportunity to try playing some Paralympic sports from 5 to 7 p.m. on the third floor of the EMU Rec/IM Department.
While the event focuses on Paralympic sports, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend, not just those with disabilities.
In fact, people of all abilities can benefit from trying out Paralympic or adaptive sports, said Swanson.
"I've been helping coach U of M's wheelchair basketball team, and I've fallen in love with it," Swanson said. "I play all the time during practices ... One of my favorite parts is that I just get to feel closer with my friends and peers who have a disability."
At Inclusion Day, participants will have the chance to play wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and a sport called goalball.
"Goalball is a sport that was sort of made around individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment," Swanson said. "It's really interesting because most Paralympic sports have an able-bodied counterpart, like wheelchair basketball has standing basketball ... but goalball is its own sport entirely."
The object of the game is to get a two-pound rubber ball with a bell inside into another player's net while the other team tries to block it, said Swanson. All players wear masks during the game, so they must rely on their other senses to win, particularly hearing and touch. It is a challenging and fun game for anyone.
"It goes really well with people who ... have a visual impairment and don't have a visual impairment," Swanson said.
With this event, Swanson hopes to bring greater awareness of and appreciation for Paralympic sports to EMU's community. He pointed out that in many cases, Paralympic sports and athletes do not receive the recognition they deserve.
"Paralympic sports ... are not as known. I think one of the best ways I can spread awareness and just get people to know about these sports is to put people in wheelchairs, and put people on the ground playing volleyball and goalball," Swanson said.
While Paralympic sports may not receive as much recognition, that does not mean they are any less fun to play. In fact, trying out those sports is a great way for people of all abilities to have fun while also feeling more connected to one another. Swanson has experienced that first-hand.
"I've had a buddy who uses a wheelchair ... I've known him for almost my whole college career, and it wasn't until I got the opportunity to also be alongside him with a chair that I felt that connection. We got to play that sport, and it's so much fun."
In the future, Swanson hopes to bring even more Paralympic and adaptive sports to EMU's community.
"I would love to have any Paralympic sport involved," he said.
To learn more about Inclusion Day, contact Swanson at lswanso4@emich.edu or call 616-633-8617. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to sign up here.
