Fourteen-year-old Jaden’s positive attitude has never allowed his condition to get in his way of living an active and fulfilling life. His passion for disability awareness, fundraising initiatives for various New Zealand charities and generously assisting community-based projects on accessibility is remarkable. Jaden was awarded the title of Young Ambassador for the YES Disability Resource Centre at an age of nine and was awarded New Zealand Youth Award for Youth with a Disability in 2017. Jaden has also acted in shows such as ‘What Now’, short films and music videos. He has had the honor to co-present the prestigious Attitude Awards for two years. Jaden loves to participate regularly in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair turbo touch, swimming, and triathlons. He has been interviewed by various media such as TV 3 News, TV One News, Sky Sports and many more.

You are a performer, ambassador, athlete, leader, advocate and a fundraiser. Which role do you love the most and which role has more challenges?J: I lead a very busy life and enjoy all my roles that enable me to challenge society’s perceptions of disabilities. Out of everything, I really love being an athlete the most. Sports is one of my main passions. I love the thrill of competition, the ability to stay fit and healthy, and being able to make friends who face similar challenges to me. I also love to show society that even with a disability you can be a serious athlete. My main sports are swimming, wheelchair basketball, triathlons and hand-cycling.
I think there are always challenges in pursuing what you love to do. Being an athlete who uses a wheelchair is challenging as there are few organisations that provide competitive opportunities. I also have a lot of surgeries which interfere with my training and competitions at times, but because I am so fit and healthy, I bounce back quickly. Society’s perceptions about sports for people with disabilities can also be challenging. We often want more than just to “have a go”. We want to be taken seriously and train and compete like any other able-bodied athlete.

How and when did you start acting and dancing? What is like about acting and dancing?J: Several years ago, I was involved with an organisation called StarJam, who support young people with disabilities to perform on stage. I did singing and dancing which was fun. I also represented my school for several years performing with the Kapa Haka group (Maori song and dance group). I’ve acted in a few short films and have also played roles in school theatre productions. While I do enjoy performing, I don’t have much time to get involved in my life currently.

Which sport do you love the most and why?J: While it is a hard choice between swimming and wheelchair basketball, I would have to say wheelchair basketball as I love being a part of a team - getting to hang out with your friends while training hard together and working as a team to win games. While I can shoot I tend to play more as a Defensive player which I really enjoy.

How was your experience in Las Vegas performing with Vanilla Ice on stage when Justin Timberlake invited you as a VIP guest?J: Being in Las Vegas and being invited by Justin Timberlake to his charity concert was amazing. Although I was only 7 years old, it was such a big thrill. I got to meet many superstars of music, walk the red carpet, hang out backstage with all the stars, and had front row seats at the concert. When Vanilla Ice performed he got me up on stage and I got to rap with him which was so much fun.

How do you manage your school work and other community-based projects?J: I try to make action plans to organise myself. I look at my goals and try to take the steps needed to achieve them. It’s important to balance things.

What is the one thing that you appreciate the most about your family?J: My family are my biggest support in everything that I do. From as long as I can remember they have always encouraged me to give things a go and believe in myself. I appreciate all they have done for me that has enabled me to have the most amazing opportunities.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you like about that place?J: One of my favourite places to visit is a small town in New Zealand called Turangi. My grandparents live there, and the area has some of the best fishing in the world. I love to fish and catch Rainbow Trout on Lake Taupo. Its always great to get away from the big city and be out on the water.

What do you like to do when you are with your friends?J: I love to be active – shoot hoops, play handball and swim; or play video games, go to the beach, or just hang out.

Any special message for our community?J: We all have an ability to make a difference in the world no matter how small it may be. With the right support and the right attitude, we can accomplish a lot. No matter who you are, there will be people who won’t believe in you. You just need to listen to those who do and ones that see you as a person, not just your disability.