Hit It Out Of The Park
Tips and best practices for adaptive programming
By Troy Houtman
Photos: Shanna Appelhanz
On a Saturday morning at Miracle Field in Wichita, Kan., one will find a group of special athletes participating in America’s pastime—baseball. While some use wheelchairs or walkers, others are blind or have intellectual disabilities—all are ready to have a swing of the bat, round the bases, and catch a ball.
Every child has the right to enjoy the thrill of playing sports, whether as part of a team or as an individual. Historically, limitations and exclusions were regularly imposed on those with intellectual and physical disabilities, predominantly due to the illusion that sports require superior physical ability. Today, there is a movement toward more progressive inclusion and acceptance, with opportunities for sports participation at many levels.
What is an intellectual disability? The term is used to describe a person with certain limitations in cognitive functioning and in other skills, including communication and self-care. However, many disabled individuals are functioning and capable of playing sports, even competing at a high level. The emphasis is on the participants’ athletic achievements rather than their impairments.
Parks and recreation agencies want to ensure that people with disabilities can organize, develop, and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities. Encouraging these programs with appropriate instruction, training, and resources may be a tall task—and one that requires much time, effort, and resources—but the rewards are tremendous!
Cover Your Bases
Daniel Sack, a programmer with Wichita Park & Recreation, has firsthand experience starting a sports program for people with these disabilities. He admits the concept behind the department’s Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) program was completely foreign to him when it began, but says it has been the most-rewarding in his 10-plus years of athletics.
“All the politics and butting of heads that comes with traditional youth sports is stripped away in this program,” he says. “You are left with the purest form of sport that is filled with nothing but laughter, high-fives, and hugs. Some may call it a ‘sports love fest.’”
Here are his tips and best practices on adaptive programming:
Don’t think of the program any differently than traditional sports programs. Athletes, and their parents, just want a safe environment, free from judgment or criticism, to play a game they enjoy. To ensure every player’s safety, partner each player with a “buddy.” These non-disabled individuals help in whatever capacity needed for full participation in the game. A buddy’s first job is to keep the other athlete safe. The second job is to encourage, support, and cheer the partner on during play! It is not unusual to find that athletes build strong relationships not only with their teammates, but with their buddies and coaches as well.
Stay flexible and adaptable. This may require becoming creative with solutions for athletes whose disabilities can be extensive. Begin each sport with a practice day to evaluate participants’ needs. It may be a bowling ramp for a child in a wheelchair to be able to participate in kickball or a beeping baseball for someone who is visually impaired.
Immerse yourself in the community that supports these athletes. There are many organizations that provide basic services, such as transportation, that may be an asset to helping with volunteers, equipment, coaches, and logistics. Develop relationships with organizations that can sponsor these activities or donate resources.
Celebrate accomplishments and milestones! It is important for athletes to see how they have progressed. Special recognition goes a long way in their developing self-esteem and a desire to continue playing sports.
Use marketing and promotions to provide exposure to programs; recruit participants, volunteers, coaches and experts; seek out sponsors and grants; gain community support. Feature the activities on social media and other marketing materials with credit and recognition given to volunteers and sponsors.
The All-Star Of The Show
Shana Appelhanz, a parks and recreation employee and mother of a child with severe apraxia and cognitive disabilities, says her 14-year-old son, Blane, has been participating in the Miracle League in Witchita every season, and it has been a game changer for her family because everyone gets involved.
“Blane is the star—all the focus is on him, which isn’t the norm because it is usually his brother competing in sports and Blane sitting in the stands with us,” she explains. “Now, his younger brother is supporting Blane while he competes, being his Buddy volunteer during the games and helping him play.”
She says the team creates camaraderie among peers who attend the same clinic as her son for speech occupational and physical therapy, and is a great bonding experience for the families.
“It is hard raising a child with special needs, and having a group of people that are in the same situation is invaluable to me as a mother,” she notes. “This league has invoked a sense of excitement and relief for caregivers bringing their child into this environment, which is not always the case.”
Appelhanz, who has also served as coach for all the teams so far, says her job goes beyond counting balls and strikes and teaching the fundamentals of the sport.
“My job as a coach is to cheer on every athlete and encourage them to have fun and be in the moment. That’s it,” she says. “It’s not about hitting the ball as hard as you can or knocking down the most pins—it’s about the experience for the athlete, their buddy, and their family.”
Troy Houtman, CPRE, is the Director of Park and Recreation for the city of Wichita, Kan. Reach him at (316) 268-4361, or thoutman@wichita.gov.