Thornhill
July 14, 2007 06:49 AM
Mike Hayakawa
If they can conduct a baseball program to work with developmentally delayed youngsters in the United States, why not in Canada, too?
That was the rationale behind the thinking of the Thornhill Baseball Club when they elected to unveil a pilot program this year to assist those who have special needs but wanted to play the game of baseball.
Offically launched June 6, the Diamond Division program takes place each Wednesday for 10 weeks at the Thornhill/Concord Regional Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Ages 7 to 12
Bruce McIntosh, a club spokesman, noted the program, believed to be the first in York Region, plays host to some 16 youngsters between seven and 12.
“There is a range of special needs in the category of developmental delay, for example autism, Down’s syndrome and intellectual delays,” he said in describing those who are enrolled in the program.
In recalling how the program was launched, Mr. McIntosh said much of it could be credited to club vice-president Howie Blumenfeld, who had worked with developmentally delayed youngsters in the past and felt an organized curriculum could be beneficial to these youngsters.
“Because the league had the infrastructure in place and research into how such programs were run in the U.S., it provided a good model, he approached other people in the league and the community to help,” Mr. McIntosh recalled.
“As a group they persuaded the league executive to approve the pilot project.”
Upon receiving full approval from the club’s executives to get the program going, Mr. McIntosh said one of the biggest concerns was potential costs that would in turn be carried by the participants’ parents.
But Mr. McIntosh was quick to point out the community support has been better than what was originally anticipated.
Their commitment has helped to make the game affordable for the parents.
“It’s been fantastic,” Mr. McIntosh said of the sponsorship they’ve received for the program.
“We’ve gotten a lot of sponsors who came through like gangbusters. As a result, we’ve been able to keep the costs down for the families.”
The participants, he said, are really no different than those who do not have any learning disabilities.
Same emotions
“Our kids have the same range of emotions and personality as any other group of kids on the planet,” Mr. McIntosh said.
“Many of the special needs are merely extremes of traits that we see in all children, such as short attention span, difficulty following instructions, communication barriers (they have non-verbal children playing) and a variety of behavioural issues.”
Mr. McIntosh is optimistic the program will remain a fixture with the club for years to come.
“Most of the parents have already expressed a desire to carry on in the future.
“It’s definitely come together better than had been expected,” he said.