Autistic kids take the field

It may have looked like a regular little league game, but when about 50 kids took the field in Ozone Park recently, the outing marked several firsts - the first time children with autism played in the WORKS Little League and the first game of what organizers believe is the only official “Challenger” division in Queens.
“We didn’t publicize it before we started. It was something new. We were all excited about it, but we were all scared also,” said WORKS Little League President Terence Flanagan, of the division formed this year from a connection with the Ozone Park-based New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC).
The WORKS “Challenger” division - short for children that are physically- or mentally-challenged - played the first game in their nine-week season on Saturday, April 19 after the idea took root last year.
Flanagan had read an article about another “Challenger” league and contacted NYFAC, which spread the word to its own little leaguers about the plan, and the WORKS - short for Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens and South Ozone Park - “Challenger” division was formed.
“There are no outs. There is no score. We use the same rules as we do for our younger division; it’s non competitive,” Flanagan explained.
Each autistic child is paired with a “buddy,” who comes up to bat, plays the positions and runs the bases as well. Flanagan described a buddy as “almost like a mentor on the baseball field,” and about two-dozen WORKS players turned out to fill the role.
Laura Latham’s 13-year-old son Thomas played in the game, and her 11-year-old son Stephen served as a buddy.
“They get to be part of a team. They hi-five each other; they talk to each other. There is a definitely a social aspect along with exercise, and the social aspect for the parents too,” Latham said.
Plus, many of the WORKS children who helped out at the game - including Flanagan’s own nine-year-old son Thomas and 14-year-old son Brian - volunteered to be buddies at the following matches.
“It’s great for our kids to be down there helping … because they see what’s out there,” Flanagan said, describing how he spotted his son Thomas showing one of the “Challenger” children how to hold the bat just as Flanagan had taught him.
“My nine-year-old isn’t that big and he was trying to reach over and help the boy hit,” Flanagan laughed.
Following the game, parents of the autistic children thanked the buddies.
“The graciousness of the parents of the [‘Challenger’] children thanking the children, that’s what surprised our kids the most,” Flanagan said.
Every Saturday morning, the “Challenger” kids, 26 in total, will meet up for a game - generally little league teams play two games per week and hold a practice but because of the children’s busy schedules only one game per week will be held.
Although it’s a little late to sign up, Flanagan said that the WORKS Little League, which has about 500 kids in total, still has a few uniforms left, and he would be hard-pressed to turn any child away.
Next season and beyond, WORKS organizers would like to open the “Challenger” division to kids with all kids of mental and physical disabilities. This year is serving somewhat as a litmus test. However, Flanagan expects there to be a growing amount of interest.
Although “Challenger” little league competition has been happening nationwide since 1989 when it was established by Little League officials, the closest divisions now in existence include the West Side Little League in Manhattan and several leagues on Long Island.
“If word gets out about our organization, I’m hoping two things happen: one, that more parents come out and two, that other little leagues will investigate and find out how they could open up a ‘Challenger’ league as well,” Flanagan said.