There’s a new afterschool program in the Kansas City area that’s helping children with special needs play sports. It’s all-inclusion flag football, and it’s popular with students.Chinn Elementary third grader Jaxson Grinter loves football.When his mom, Leigh Grinter, found out he was going to have a chance to play it, she said she nearly cried.”The happiness on his face,” said Leigh Grinter.Jaxson is part of the all-new afterschool flag football program at Chinn Elementary.”No matter where you come from, no matter who you are, everyone belongs in something,” said Alex Richard, the physical education instructor at Chinn Elementary.Richard said that it is all about outside activity and inclusion opportunities all wrapped in learning the sport of flag football, no matter the challenges.”It doesn’t matter we’re all the same. We’re all here to have fun. We’re all here to learn something,” Richard said.The after-school event lasts about 45 minutes. About 70 kids are involved in the first-of-its-kind, all-inclusive flag football team in the area.”You know it’s amazing to see it. It’s cool that they know that everyone can belong,” said Ryan Stewart, an instructor at Chinn Elementary.”It just lightens your heart. It’s not hard to include all kids of all abilities,” Leigh Grinter said.”I think ultimately it’s all about coming together,” Richard said.This is the first year of the program. School leaders said they are happily surprised at how many kids show up to participate.
There’s a new afterschool program in the Kansas City area that’s helping children with special needs play sports. It’s all-inclusion flag football, and it’s popular with students.
Chinn Elementary third grader Jaxson Grinter loves football.
When his mom, Leigh Grinter, found out he was going to have a chance to play it, she said she nearly cried.
“The happiness on his face,” said Leigh Grinter.
Jaxson is part of the all-new afterschool flag football program at Chinn Elementary.
“No matter where you come from, no matter who you are, everyone belongs in something,” said Alex Richard, the physical education instructor at Chinn Elementary.
Richard said that it is all about outside activity and inclusion opportunities all wrapped in learning the sport of flag football, no matter the challenges.
“It doesn’t matter we’re all the same. We’re all here to have fun. We’re all here to learn something,” Richard said.
The after-school event lasts about 45 minutes. About 70 kids are involved in the first-of-its-kind, all-inclusive flag football team in the area.
“You know it’s amazing to see it. It’s cool that they know that everyone can belong,” said Ryan Stewart, an instructor at Chinn Elementary.
“It just lightens your heart. It’s not hard to include all kids of all abilities,” Leigh Grinter said.
“I think ultimately it’s all about coming together,” Richard said.
This is the first year of the program. School leaders said they are happily surprised at how many kids show up to participate.
