Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia hosts an adaptive baseball clinic for younger athletes with disabilities.
This web page accommodates a video which is being blocked by your advert blocker.
In order to view the video you have to disable your advert blocker.
Fairfax Co. highschool student starts baseball clinic for athletes with disabilities
The health club at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology within the Alexandria part of Fairfax County, Virginia, was packed Saturday as 25 younger athletes with disabilities took half within the faculty’s first adaptive baseball clinic.
The occasion was hosted by the varsity’s varsity baseball crew and led by Andrew Haydon, a 17-year-old junior who created it. He stated the thought grew from his expertise with his 13-year-old brother, who has autism and different studying disabilities.
“This whole camp is deeply personal to me,” Haydon stated. “My younger brother has autism and an array of learning disabilities.”
He referred to as his brother his “superhero” and credited his mom for encouraging him to show the thought into actuality.
Haydon stated he needed to offer children like his brother an opportunity to find adaptive baseball. “I really feel like this is an awesome alternative to offer children like my little brother, who weren’t conscious of adaptive leagues, an opportunity to get expertise with adaptive baseball and perhaps fall in love with baseball and proceed enjoying,’ he stated.
Twenty members of the varsity’s varsity baseball crew volunteered as coaches, guiding the athletes by way of drills. Haydon’s brother Nick helped out within the sensory room.
“It’s a room where there’s fidgets. They’re supposed to help with kids if they get overwhelmed,” Nick stated.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
WTOP/Jimmy Alexander
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
WTOP/Jimmy Alexander
The clinic was overseen by varsity baseball coach Jennifer Hammond, who stated the crew is centered on greater than educating expertise. “We are realizing we’re not just helping shape baseball players, but we’re trying to shape good humans on and off the field,” she stated.
Parents crammed the health club’s sidelines and watched because the younger athletes labored on batting, operating and throwing expertise. Shannon LaBarbara introduced her son Edison and stated the clinic left her feeling inspired.
“I feel very inspired,” she stated. “This group of young men feels inclined and encouraged to do this and to bring inclusion to everything that they’re doing.”
One athlete, Kai, appeared to know everybody there. His mom, Candita Sabavala, stated the 13-year-old has at all times cherished sports activities. “We drag him to his older brother’s games all the time, so it’s nice for him to be able to have something of his own,” she stated.
Between operating, batting and throwing balls, WTOP requested Kai what he favored most in regards to the baseball clinic.
With amusing, Kai stated “Everything.”
Get breaking information and every day headlines delivered to your e mail inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This web site is not supposed for customers situated inside the European Economic Area.