Creating Inclusive Opportunities: Miracle League’s mission to bring baseball to children and adults with special needs – The Courier News

Creating Inclusive Opportunities: Miracle League’s mission to bring baseball to children and adults with special needs – The Courier News

Written by Tanya Terry, with photos courtesy of Easterseals MORC Miracle League baseball program for children and adults with special needs is available June 13-August 22 in Genesee County. Easterseals MORC Miracle League Director of Adaptive Recreation Nick Lionas recently discussed the Miracle League baseball program in Genesee County with the Courier. The Miracle League started in Georgia in the late 1990s and early 2000s, arriving in Southfield, Michigan in 2004. The program has since expanded to multiple locations including Southfield, Orion Township and Mundy Township. Lionas was inspired by his childhood experience with a wiffle ball field in his backyard where neighbors with special needs would play, and later by his own son who has cystic fibrosis. “I grew up with a wiffle ball field in my backyard and one of my neighbors, who had special needs, would come out and play,” shared Lionas. “And he was just always so excited to do that. I think it took me a while as I grew up to realize how meaningful that could be for someone who otherwise wouldn’t be able to play baseball at all.” “…The idea is, every kid, every person deserves to play baseball. And we will cut down every barrier possible to make that, to make that happen. “That’s kind of the reason behind it. “…I know for myself, even I have a son with cystic fibrosis and he played baseball. “I remember when he was born, I held him in my arms and I just found out that he had cystic fibrosis. And the thoughts that went through my head were” ‘Will I ever see him run the bases? Can I ever coach his team? And I now, having talked to a lot of parents, I realize so many parents have those thoughts and feelings…” The League’s mission is to ensure every person can play baseball by removing barriers to participation. The program creates a safe, non-competitive space where players of all abilities can enjoy baseball at their own pace. Features include everyone scoring, music when players come to bat and no strikeouts or outs. The Mundy Township location, called Miracle Commons, is in its second year of operation, with registration still available for the summer season running through August 22. There will also be an additional game on August 23. “We are having one more game on August 23, Sunday afternoon at 12:30, as Mundy Township celebrates the United States 250th anniversary,” shared Lionas. “So, they’re incorporating the game into that.” The program emphasizes the importance of team sports for children with developmental disabilities, noting research shows participation in team sports increases employment opportunities. “For every year that you are in a team sport, your likelihood of being hired for a job actually goes up. So, there are development aspects of sports team sports. Then there’s social aspects, right? The social aspects of being on a team. We’ve seen kids who come out and they are really reserved and shy the first week, or maybe even upset to be there. But by the week three, they are socializing and they’re growing.” For adults with disabilities, the program is especially vital because Lionas stated there is almost nowhere they can go to participate in the sport. The League requires approximately 20 volunteers each Saturday who serve as buddies on the field, helping players stay engaged and providing one-on-one attention. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old. Lionas highlighted how volunteering benefits both the players and volunteers themselves, fostering compassion and understanding. Lionas’ son even served previously as a volunteer “I watched my 12-year-old grow in compassion and grow in understanding the wonderful world that this is where there’s places for everyone in this world. Everybody’s important. So, I think these are the aspects that being present and volunteering your time and energy is really beneficial to the volunteers themselves.” The program also offers other adaptive sports in Oakland County, such as hockey, but baseball required a specially designed field with rubberized surfaces to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. Lionas indicated growth of the program in Genesee County is likely. “We all have the opportunity to make this place a better place for every individual. The Miracle League creates an opportunity for the kids to come out and participate in a place where it makes their world better. And the buddies and volunteers have that opportunity to participate in a better world.” For more information, visit Greater Flint – Easterseals MORC Miracle League (michiganmiracle.org) To sign up as a volunteer, visit Volunteer – Easterseals MORC Miracle League (michiganmiracle.org)