The Red Sox and The Arc of Massachusetts Join Forces to Promote Inclusion
Boston, MA (PRWEB) August 18, 2014 -- The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society’s (PBATS) PLAY (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) Campaign is scheduled to make a stop at Fenway Park to promote the importance of children living a healthy and active lifestyle.
In 2014, the PLAY campaign became the first program in professional sports to include children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through a partnership with The Arc. On August 20, children served by The Arc of Massachusetts will participate in a PLAY Campaign event with trainers and players from the Boston Red Sox.
“We are happy to be partnering in this inclusive event with Rick Jameyson and Brad Pearson to advance the health of children and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Massachusetts,” said Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of The Arc of Massachusetts.
The PLAY Campaign, conducted at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums each season, is a public awareness campaign of PBATS. The campaign is designed to help combat childhood obesity and promote a healthy and active lifestyle by promoting fun activities and good decision-making. Originally developed in 2004, PLAY is now the longest running health campaign in professional sports directed specifically at young people. The events are typically two hours in length and include stations hosted by experts from across the United States. This year, for the first time, children with I/DD from chapters of The Arc will participate alongside children without disabilities at these events.
“While we have come a long way in including people with disabilities in the sports world, too often those opportunities are segregated. Kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities are capable of and deserve to be included alongside kids without disabilities in recreational activities – and PBATS is the first professional sports organization to formally recognize this and take action. We appreciate the care that the trainers and stadium staff are taking to make these events inclusive,” said Peter V. Berns, CEO of The Arc.
NOTE: A Red Sox issued media credential must be presented to enter the PLAY event. Media members needing credentials can contact Sheri Rosenberg at srosenberg(at)redsox(dot)com.
The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 700 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.
Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.
Sarah Bal, The Arc of the United States, +1 (202) 600-3494, [email protected]
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