“Yes, I Can Do That”: How Access Has Shaped Life for Cody and Chris 

Living with a disability can change your entire outlook on life. For many, adapting is just a part of life. Yet for some, such as Chris and Cody, adapting is just the beginning.  

This year’s Duchenne Awareness Day theme “Access Changes Lives” is reflected in the stories of Cody and Chris. The experiences of these two powerchair football players are a reminder that when the right supports and opportunities are in place, people can participate and pursue what matters to them and fulfil their full potential. For Cody, “full potential” means “making the most of every opportunity and having fun with the people around me.”  

The duo play powerchair football together for Sydney FC Foundation’s Powerchair Team and both live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).  

Access to sport 

Cody, aged 13, has played powerchair football for four years. He has gone from a newcomer to representing Sydney FC Foundation’s first team, competing against some of the best players in Australia and New Zealand.  

Before discovering powerchair football, Cody played able-bodied football from the age of four. As his condition progressed, staying involved became more difficult. 

“During the last two years of my able-bodied soccer career, I played as a goalkeeper because I was no longer able to run up and down the field,” he said. “I found it difficult to get down and back up to save goals.”  

Initially reluctant to try powerchair football, Cody was encouraged by his mum to attend a Come and Try Day.

“For the first time, I was able to play a sport without limitations imposed by my body. Everyone competed on a level playing field. It was much easier on my body and allowed me to continue enjoying the sport I loved.”  

Despite his youth, Cody already hopes to inspire the next generation of players. 

“Not only does it give you the opportunity to stay active and compete, but it also allows you to make lifelong friendships and become part of a supportive community that understands your experiences.”  

Access must evolve as needs change 

Chris is no stranger to the sport. As captain of the Australian team at the 2014 Copa America in Rio de Janeiro, he is one of the most recognisable players to represent the Poweroos.  

One of the most important lessons powerchair football has taught him is simple: 

“I can do more than I think.”  

As people change and conditions progress, particularly within the neuromuscular community, adjustments are often needed to ensure people can continue participating in the activities that matter to them.  

For Chris, that has recently included transitioning to a BiPAP machine while playing powerchair football. 

“I feel it’s given me another burst of energy in the sport,” he said.  

Although the decision wasn’t easy, Chris eventually concluded that “using daytime ventilation will actually improve my quality of life.”  

Outside of sport, adaptability remains just as important. Chris regularly finds creative solutions to ensure his assistive technology works for him. 

“I was finding when I was at my computer that air coming from the front of my BiPAP would bounce off the screen and down on to my hands and my fingers would get too cold to type,” he explained. 

“What we ended up doing was making a couple of little stands out of blocks of Lego and then I’ve got a little Perspex screen that I pop on top of them. It’s a shield that stops the air bouncing onto my hands.”  

Access to community and opportunity 

For Cody, access is also about community. 

One of the ways he stays connected is through MDNSW Summer Breaks.  

“Camps allow us to enjoy a range of activities, share new experiences and have fun in an environment where everyone feels included,” he said. “They give us the opportunity to step outside our daily routines, build independence and create lasting memories with friends.”  

When asked what advice he would give to parents whose child has recently been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Chris’ response was simple: 

“You’ve just got to encourage your child to do whatever they can.”  

And for Cody, he’ll be forever grateful that his mum did. 

This World Duchenne Awareness Day, the stories of Cody and Chris remind us that access is not just about equipment, services or support. It’s about creating opportunities for people to participate, connect with others and continue doing the things they love. When the right opportunities are available, more people can say: “Yes, I can do that.”  

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