Paralympic football program gives children with diverse needs a chance to flourish | ABC News

Jay Larkins' son Jarrod Larkins-Law has cerebral palsy and finding an opportunity for him to get involved in sport as a young boy wasn't easy.

"He couldn't walk unaided until he was four and a half," Mr Larkins said.

"He had a lot of trouble, until he was five, at actually communicating and talking."

After trying out mainstream clubs without much success, Mr Larkins took his then 11-year-old son to the Festival of Football for Paralympian footballers at Perry Park in Brisbane.

"No-one else his age turned up, he was thrown an old basketball jersey and told he was on the team," Mr Larkins said.

"That was the first time he represented Queensland."

Mr Larkins then created the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program which caters to all abilities.

Fast forward to today and Mr Larkins-Law, now 28, has represented Australia 17 times as a Paralympic footballer.

"As a father especially, but as a coach and a person who is trying to give other families the same joy, I couldn't be more proud of him."


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