Elementary students learn wheelchair sports at Kamloops school

Stu Wymer, a 41-year-old quadriplegic, is wheelingaround theMarion Schilling Elementary school gym in Kamloops, teaching students how to play sports in wheelchairs.

It was teacher Jennifer Jones'idea to bringWymerinto teachstudentshow to play wheelchair sports.

"We thought [Stu]was a really good example of how someonecan show resiliency,"Jones toldDaybreakKamloopsproducer CourtneyDickson.

Breaking stigma

Wymerhas been in a wheelchair for 11 years, and has been playing sports such as basketball, rugby and sledge hockey ever since.

Wymerhopes to teach students atthe school that everyone can play sports.

"There's water skiers and sit skiers, and sledge hockey for hockey players. I play all of those sports, but in my own way with adapted equipment....every sport you do can be done in a wheelchair," saidWymer.

"Lets break that stigma of can't do and let's make it can do."

Grade 6studentCambriaOsbourne, said she'slearned how to play basketball and volleyball in a wheelchair.

"Anyone isable to do it, even if they're not able to walk," saidOsbourne. "So I think that's really nice,that people are able to do anything."

Learning resilience

Each month, the teachers at the school zero in on adifferent attribute to teach students, such as perseverance or responsibility.

After students spent time with Wymer, Jonesnoticed students shiftedtheir thinking from 'I can't do it, it's too hard' to a more 'can do' attitude.

"It's been really cool the way resiliency has kind of taught itself this month thanks to Stu," said Jones.

Jones hopes that students will apply this lesson outside ofwheelchair sports.

"Across the board I find that what we've learned from school about resiliency really transfers to a wide variety of situations."