Reema El Qassem Is Creating New Opportunities for Disabled Women in Wheelchair Basketball
For Reema El Qassem, wheelchair basketball is more than a sport. It has helped her rediscover herself, build confidence, and find a sense of belonging after acquiring a disability.
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El Qassem developed Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in 2023, a condition that can affect movement, speech, and other neurological functions. After spending 320 days in hospital and taking eight months to adjust to life as a wheelchair user, she found a new path through sport.
“When the doctors told me I would be going home in a wheelchair, I remember thinking, that’s OK, I’ll just play wheelchair basketball,” she said.
Now playing for the Sydney Uni Lions in the National Wheelchair Basketball League, El Qassem has helped her team reach the national league play-offs in both 2025 and 2026.
“I feel the most alive and the most able when I’m playing sport,” she explained. “For those moments, I’m not thinking about my disability; I’m just an athlete.”
As a non-verbal athlete, El Qassem communicates through body language, facial expressions, and a phone application. However, using technology during matches can be difficult, particularly when she needs to communicate quickly with teammates in a noisy sports hall.
Her team has been exploring different ways to help her communicate on court, showing the importance of adapting sporting environments to meet athletes’ needs.
Despite these challenges, El Qassem continues to develop her skills and hopes to represent Australia one day. However, her FND does not currently meet the eligibility requirements for international wheelchair basketball classification, limiting her opportunities to compete beyond national and local leagues.
Her experience highlights how classification systems can create barriers for athletes whose impairments are not covered by existing requirements.
Outside the court, El Qassem is a single mother of four daughters, who often come to support her at games. She wants them to see disabled people as athletes with strength, talent, and determination.
Through her participation, she is also helping challenge assumptions about who belongs in sport, including by being the first hijab-wearing player in the league.
For El Qassem, inclusion means creating opportunities for more people to take part, regardless of disability or background.
“Everyone has a place, and everyone belongs,” she said.
Source: ABC News
Wright, E. (2026, October 17). Reema El Qassem is carving new pathways for disabled women in wheelchair basketball. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-18/reema-el-qassem-wheelchair-basketball-sydney-uni-lions/107220160?utm_source=chatgpt.com
