In just eight short weeks, Grayson Moore learned that sports isn't always about who can hit the ball the farthest or run the fastest.
When Moffat Creek Public School was named a Jays Care Foundation affiliate school, Moore was one of 14 special education students selected to participate in the program designed for children facing barriers to participation, including those with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Getting off the sidelines and into the game allowed Moore to gather with his peers in a relaxed setting and develop important life skills.
"I like that it's a team sport," Moore said.
"I've learned that you have to work together. I like that we're able to help each other out and I've been cheering people on. It's very important."
Amanda Potter, a special education resource teacher at Moffat Creek, said the program fits well with the school board's goal of creating opportunities for all students.
"In our school board we're pushing for inclusion and including kids with special needs," Potter said.
"One area we noticed was lacking was the extra curricular activities. For us, that was really important."
Potter knew once the opportunity was provided to the students, the results would be positive.
And she was right.
From having fun to getting out of their comfort zone, many of the students were able to share a different side of themselves not typically seen in a classroom setting.
"We've seen a side of kids we don't get to see on a day-to-day basis, it's provided an opportunity to practice their social skills that they don't always get," Potter said.
"It's a great way for them to practice and us to coach them in small settings so when they go back to their classrooms, they're able to bring that back. Kids that we thought didn't have an athletic side to them, they flourished. It was a bonus for us that we got to see that come out in them."
Cam Linwood has been instrumental is developing and facilitating sports programs for people with special needs in the community.
In his current role, Linwood serves as the Senior Manager of Challenger Baseball with the Jays Care Foundation.
He's also in charge of the local Buddy League, which is run for children and adults with special needs and has grown to 105 players this year.
With the assistance of teacher and Buddy League volunteer Mark Woodfield, Linwood led the process in Moffat Creek becoming the first and only affiliate school in Cambridge.
"We started the conversation last summer saying why don't we start an affiliate school program because there wasn't one in town," Linwood said.
"Our goal is to give athletes an opportunity to experience the program as much as possible. It's neat to be able to see the progression of the kids."
With the success of the program, Linwood hopes other schools in the city take notice and consider the opportunities the Jays Care Foundation provides.
"Quite often all it takes is an advocate like Mark to make the application," he said.
"Our affiliate schools program across the country grew 1,200 schools this year. Ideally, the goal would be that every school in Cambridge has a challenger baseball program."
More information on becoming a Jays Care Affiliate School is available on the MLB website.
