Sudbury’s All-Star Athletic Meet puts inclusion first

Hundreds of special-needs students competed at the Rainbow District School Board’s annual inclusive track meet at Laurentian University.

Students test their athletic abilities at an annual track and field event held at the Laurentian University track on Tuesday – but this All-Star Athletic Meet is more about inclusivity rather than speed or physical prowess.

“This event is specifically designed for our students with special needs that might not be able to participate in their school’s regular track meet,” said Danielle Williamson, the board’s superintendent of special education.

“We do the best that we can to have everyone come out and compete and have a great day.”

More than 560 special needs students from Rainbow District School Board and Conseil Scolaire du Grand Nord participated.

“Regardless of your physical ability, everyone loves to compete and we love to cheer them on,” said Arynn Frantz, the principal of Westmount Public School.

“There’s huge cheering sections here all day long and it’s just a wonderful event so that everyone can participate.”.

Competitions include long jump, high jump, softball throw and various distances for running with various track and field events adapted to allow all abilities to participate.

“If they race in their wheelchair or in their stroller, we adapt all field events as well so that everyone has an opportunity to be included and it’s a wonderful, inclusive event,” said Shannon Lafrance, the principal of Jean Hanson Public School.

Natasha Delaney came with her son Oden Jemmett, who is non-verbal.

“When he first started, he was in a wheelchair stroller, so I used to have to run with him and push and now he’s fully mobile and runs all on his own,” Delaney said.

“He just needs a little bit of help with direction on which way to run. I run with him so that way he follows and doesn’t turn around and run back to me.”

Nashton Proulx, 11, was attending from Redwood Acres Public School. When asked which event was his favourite he said, ‘the racing part,’ meaning the various running events.

This is the 23rd year for the event, which was formerly called the Challenge Meet.

Along with students and staff, families come to support their children and grandchildren.

Williamson called the track meet a ‘big community event’ that everyone looks forward to each year.