Sabra Lane: You know the saying, to understand someone's experience you need to spend time in their shoes. A disability sporting program is doing just that, teaching students about how to live in a world that wasn't built for everyone. More now from National Disability Affairs reporter, Nas Campanella.
Nas Campanella: At Whitefriars College in Melbourne's outer suburbs, 180 boys are hitting the basketball court. This match is about more than just sport, they're doing it in wheelchairs. Leading the game is Peter Ogunyemi, a Paralympian who lost the use of his legs as a result of contracting polio as a child in Nigeria.
Peter Ogunyemi : Ever since then it's like it has been part of my life and I just roll with it. I'm proud of who I am.
Nas Campanella: It's that message he's sharing with high school students through a program called Wheel Talk. Run by Disability Sport and Recreation, the program aims to give non-disabled people a taste of disabled life. For Peter, that involves sharing his personal journey with his many sporting achievements and the challenges too.
Vincent Lacobaccio : No matter what happens in life, it's still your life.
Nas Campanella: Before the session, Year 7 student Vincent Lacabaccio admitted he didn't know much about disability, but says he's really keen to learn.
Vincent Lacobaccio : I think I'll go alright. I might airball a few shots because I rely on the power of my legs heavily, but it'll be worth a shot having a go.
Nas Campanella: His mate Spencer Jurowicz is also taking part.
Spencer Jurowicz : I reckon it would be quite hard just because you have to wheel a lot and use your arms and your coordination would have to be pretty good.
Nas Campanella: During the session, students learn to power the wheelchair, turn and pick up the ball. The school's principal is Mark Murphy.
Mark Murphy: We think it's very important here at Whitefriars for our boys to look beyond themselves and to learn that they live their life isn't necessarily the way that everyone does.
Nas Campanella: He says programs like this can help non-disabled students learn how to interact with disabled people.
Mark Murphy: People don't want sympathy and I think that's what Peter has done today. He doesn't want sympathy. He wasn't looking for that. He was wanting the boys to understand his world.
Nas Campanella: With the game over, Vincent and Spencer have learnt a lot.
Vincent Lacobaccio : I found it very fun, very challenging at the same time. I now appreciate how wheelchair players shoot and move around.
Spencer Jurowicz : It feels like I've just done a three hour workout. I've taken away that sometimes I take this sort of stuff like walking for granted.
Vincent Lacobaccio : Peter wants people to leave his sessions knowing that life with disability does throw up challenges, but it's every bit as enjoyable.
Peter Ogunyemi : When people think, oh it's so hard, I don't say that. All I say is I want to go out there and change life to the best of my ability.
Sabra Lane: Paralympian Peter Ogunyemi ending that report by Nas Campanella.