For most typical kids, their weeknights and weekends consist of Little League baseball, practice after practice and game after game. In fact, it seems like a rite of passage as a kid to be part of team sports, where they make friends, have fun and learn to be physically active. But for children with special needs, sports can seem out of reach and only exist in their fantasies. Not so anymore with leagues up and running around the Dallas-Fort Worth area that are specifically designed for kids with special needs of all kinds to simply play and enjoy sports.
HOW IT WORKS
But what about those kids that aren’t physically able to run, jump and even swing a bat? It’s not an issue with such leagues as the Buddy League in Garland, the Miracle League in Arlington and the Angel League in Rockwall (just to name a few). In these leagues, “buddies” are assigned to each child with special needs to bat, push their wheelchair to home base or just play along side the child. “Buddies” are volunteers and sometimes are typical children that play in little leagues as well, sharing a love for the game. As Gina Davis, executive director of the Miracle League of DFW shares, for these children, it’s about “show[ing] their abilities instead of being judged for their inabilities.”
In the Miracle League, importance is placed on the ability for anyone with special needs to play. With that in mind, the little baseballers play on custom-built fields that eliminate hazards such as raised bases in favor of a completely flat, rubberized and cushioned surface. These substitutions allow those who are visually impaired and in a wheelchair to have the opportunity to join in as well.
WHY IT WORKS
Mom Terri Boyd of Grand Prairie signed her 13-year-old son up to play for the Miracle League despite his rare genetic condition, which prevents Graham from swallowing. Many games later, Boyd continually watches him thrive on the field. Not only can he hit well in t-ball, but “running the bases is great for his coordination,” confirms his mom. Most importantly though, Graham gets excited to play baseball with his friends. “On Saturdays when we say, ‘Let’s go get your baseball uniform on,’ he knows he is going to play baseball,” explains Boyd. Since the game is much more friendly and played for enjoyment, as opposed to playing for competition and bragging rights, every child crosses home plate to cheers from their friends, family, coaches and teammates. Graham crosses home plate with true flair—“He raises his arms in victory!”
There are numerous reasons why playing sports as a child is beneficial. There’s the hand-eye coordination, physical activity, learning to be part of a team and learning how to be a gracious loser (and winner). But to kids with special needs who aren’t able to compete at the highest levels and may not even be able to walk, it’s all about enjoying the sport, being a kid and having a little fun.
