Maclain is a 10-year-old boy who loves the Jays, baseball and has grown up cheering on his older brother's baseball team from the sidelines for the past 6 seasons. Maclain was a client of Gluckstein Lawyers, after complications following birth results in his diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. He is also one of my enthusiastic and beloved sons.
Written by Brenda Agnew, Client Liaison for Gluckstein Lawyers
Adaptive sports made for everyBODY.
Cerebral Palsy affects all of Maclain's gross and fine motor movements, which makes the act of playing traditional baseball impossible for him. He has yearned for years to be just like his big brother and his favourite Blue Jays player: to be a baseball player on a team with his friends. 4 years ago, we learned about a program called Challenger Baseball, an inclusive, adapted and incredible opportunity for Maclain and other children with differing abilities to play baseball. Every Saturday, the players, their coaches and "buddies" take the field with their fans encouraging them in the stands. They learn and practice all the basics like hitting and pitching and throwing. At the end of the practice, the kids play a fun and competitive game where they can show off the skills they have been working on from week to week. The smiles are big, the cheers are loud and you can feel the energy as these committed athletes play a sport they love. Just as it should be, just like it is for neurotypical children participating in the recreational activities they love. Challenger Baseball is but one of the many diverse, adapted and inclusive recreational programs that are a part of the ParaSport Ontario umbrella.The vision of ParaSport.
ParaSport's mission is to "provide support to all members of the disability community - regardless of age or stage in life - to find, connect with, and participate in competitive and recreational sport programs and activities of their choice to enhance physical function and quality of life." You only have to look at the pure joy on Maclain's face to see the impact that Challenger Baseball and ParaSport Ontario have had on a boy who could previously only dream about being a part of a baseball team. As his mother, the happiness this program has brought my son means the world.You can make a huge difference with just one click.
Many people ask me how they can support Challenger Baseball, and other programs which let kids of all abilities be able to play sports. The answer to this question is easy: become a member of ParaSport Ontario. Membership for ParaSport Ontario is completely FREE, and it makes a world of difference in the lives of so many. Simply follow this ParaSport Membership link become a member, because there's a sport for everyBODY and we all have the right to play. Have questions about ParaSport Ontario, or adaptive programs through ParaSport available for your child? Please email me directly at [email protected]Subscribe to our Newsletter