(Pictured left to right) Former New England Patriots player Andre Tippett, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft and his wife Myra Kraft and Steven Berube (Submitted photo)
WESTFIELD – If your child has a disability, it can be difficult trying to find places they can fit in and feel accepted. If you’re looking for a great opportunity, then there is a nonprofit organization in Westfield focused on inclusion and forming bonds of friendship through sports related activities.
The Ultimate Sports Program is hosting its 6th Bi-Annual trip to Orlando, FL from August 12th to the 14th. Families attending will be given discounts to stay at the Walt Disney World Resort and will also receive discounts on park entry.
Steven Berube is the program director of USP Kids, and founded the organization after his son defended a boy with Down Syndrome in his class from bullies. Steven and his son invited the boy to play pitch baseball with them, and after some time his mother agreed to let him play. As time went on, more families heard the story and soon a mailing list of over 900 families had come together.
Over the years, USP Kids has relied on generous donations and volunteer work to keep children of all ages and abilities playing together. With that, children have grown up and volunteers have moved on. Growing large so quickly, they would love to find ways to raise funding so they can keep costs of special events as low as possible.
(pictured l-r) Kristen Jones, Steve Berube, Juel Holland, Catherine Jones, Kayla Costa and Katelyn Jones (Submitted photo)
They’re also looking for volunteers knowledgeable in different sports and can actively engage children as coaches or helpful participants.
Westfield State University donates the Parenzo Hall Gym every Saturday morning, and have anywhere from 6 to 70 participants. There is no sign up, and they take anyone who walks in. Berube’s motto as he states is “Any kid, from anywhere, of any size, any age, any sex, and any ability”
Special events usually require signups, have a limit on attendees, and usually a cost, albeit cheap.
Families are responsible for their own children, and must stay at an event until finished. They are responsible for any medical situations that occur.
Berube wants kids to look at each other as equals, and understand that we each have different abilities and skill sets, things that make each child unique. The way they operate involves coaching during the sporting event, where more athletic and competitive children are asked to be mindful and try helping their teammates who are struggling. Doing this can form bonds of friendship and helps create empathetic and compassionate environments.
During his time as the program director, Berube has seen dozens of cases, where star athletes join for volunteer hours and fall in love with the program and children with special needs who are afraid of interactions with others who then learn to come out of their shells. It seems like there is some therapeutic value to the participation in team sports.
You can find more info at www.uspkids.com. Included is a complete list of all the sports covered, event dates and info on the Orlando trip, which is still looking for interested parties.
