Back in February, we hosted Adapted Sports Day at James Madison University where we invited youth with disabilities on campus to experience college and play wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball. A colleague of mine, Dr. Thomas Moran, and I wanted to ensure that our student volunteers weren’t just watching the participants but that they had an adapted sport experience, too. So, we required the student volunteers to participate in the sports, also.

In speaking with students afterward, wheelchair basketball was a hit.

I asked students—each of whom identified as not having a physical disability—if they would play an adapted sport if offered as an intramural option. Without hesitation, everyone I spoke with responded with a “Yes, if it’s wheelchair basketball.”

During our Adapted Sports Day event, one wheelchair basketball shoot-around was a picture of inclusion. It had kids with various disabilities dribbling a basketball next to college students without disabilities shooting a basketball next to a local wheelchair basketball team member instructing technique. At that moment, it became clear that wheelchair basketball would be an easy way to introduce college students to a new sport while also offering an opportunity for a college student with a disability to play intramurals.

Too often adapted sport is considered to be “just for them,” meaning it’s only for people with disabilities. This modern-day form of othering isn’t going to just go away. It must take a conscious effort to foster an inclusive environment. Sport can do that.

Sport is an international language, and it is particularly influential among college-aged individuals. Time and again, when we host adapted sport events at JMU, student volunteers walk away speaking about how they have a new appreciation for disability sport and adapted sport. Now, imagine if they actually played those sports. Yes, students without disabilities playing a sport that is often considered only for people with disabilities.

Imagine if a half-day wheelchair basketball clinic were held in the fall semester at a university’s recreation facility to expose students of all abilities to a new sport option of wheelchair basketball. The educational piece to that is ensuring the students view adapted sport as just another form of sport.

Imagine if a one-day session of wheelchair basketball games were held in conjunction with March Madness at a university’s recreation facility to allow students of all abilities to play a live game of wheelchair basketball.

Imagine if a multi-day wheelchair basketball tournament consisting of multiple teams took place in an intramural setting on a college campus.

Imagine college students with disabilities—and faculty, for that matter—playing alongside students without disabilities in a sport that needs no changing to foster inclusion.

There are hurdles. How can we guarantee people will play? (Hint: Do some politicking among the most trusted students to gain support). How can we fund the purchasing of equipment? (Hint: Partner with a local wheelchair basketball team or rehabilitation center).

Implementing wheelchair basketball among intramural programming at a university could not only offer a competitive outlet for college students with disabilities, but it could also destroy stereotypes among college students who have never been exposed to adapted sport while also enriching their university experience. Isn’t that what we are tasked to do?