NEW LENOX, IL — Jeanine Kozlowski had a plan, and it went better than she could have ever expected.
New Lenox resident Kozlowski, whose son Austin’s special needs inspired her to start nonprofit Advocates for Acceptance, dreamt of him playing baseball, with other kids and just like other kids. For Austin, who’s wheelchair-bound and has sensory special needs, it seemed a tall ask, but that didn’t stop Kozlowski from swinging for the fences.
She came up with the idea for an all-abilities softball game: special needs kids on the same team as those with typical abilities. All playing alongside each other.
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“The idea I had was to teach these children to all interact together,” Kozlowski told Patch. “It’s not really taught as much to typical peers, how to interact with special needs peers.”
She realized that with that idea, some difficult conversations would come—educating peers and coaches about each player’s special needs. An experience designed to teach the essential lessons that fuel her organization’s mission.
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“Inclusion,” Kozlowski said. “Learning how to interact with each other and not being afraid.”
Kozlowski’s 7-year-old son Austin has schizencapahaly, a rare congenital brain malformation that causes abnormal clefts to form in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Austin is non-verbal, and uses a wheelchair. The condition develops in utero, Kozlowski said, and it took some time to diagnose. Kozlowski and her husband Justin adopted Austin one day after his birth. Austin was diagnosed at eight months old, Kozlowski said, and as he’s grown, his needs have become apparent and more pressing. Also diagnosed with septo-optic dysplasia, he has impaired vision.
His impaired vision can be challenging for those around him to understand. He has a startle reflex, Kozlowski said, so she reminds people to be sure they’re in his line of sight when interacting.
That was one tip she had for New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann—Austin’s coach at the Aug. 15 softball game in New Lenox’s Heather Glen Subdivision. Baldermann, along with Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle, Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen and Mokena Mayor Fleischer, led teams of 8–10 players, with both special and typical needs. Police and firemen from each town also served as assistant coaches, Kozlowski said.
“I hit no resistance getting anyone to help,” she said. “Our police and fireman around here are amazing. I love our town. All the mayors always want to help, and include our kids in any way they can.”
Kozlowski met with the coaching staffs ahead of game time, debriefing them on any player’s special needs and how they could best support them during the game.
“Everybody was a great sport,” she said. “Everybody was amazing.”
The games were two innings, and held at Leigh Creek South Park. The field there is designed to accommodate wheelchairs, making it ideal for a face off between those with varying abilities. Manhattan’s team played Mokena, and New Lenox played Frankfort. Every kid stepped up to bat, and they kept going until they hit the ball. They advanced to only first base. By the last player on the team, when they hit, it’s a home run, and all the kids are brought home.
“It was fun to see everybody interacting, having fun, not really being afraid,” Kozlowski said.
Without a typical scoring system, it came down to the mayors to determine an overall winner.
“We had all the mayors hit a beach ball with a whiffle ball bat,” Kozlowski said, chuckling. “Whoever hit it the furthest, we decided that was who was going to win.”
The players had some special fans in the audience, too—Sonic the Hedgehog made an appearance, courtesy of Rizzo’s Party Mascots. Joey’s Red Hots food truck was on-site, donating 15 percent of sales from the event back to Advocates for Acceptance. New Lenox District 122 Superintendent Lori Motsch attended, as did D122 Special Education Directors Mandy Novotny and Christa Blatt. State Rep. Anthony DeLuca also attended. Special needs dad and travel baseball coach Sonny Bordonado pitched the games, with assistant coach Kyle Siwinski catching. Kozlowski was also supported by her husband Justin Kozlowski, and nonprofit leaders Kelly Hurley and Alyssa Thielman.
“It went off without a hitch,” Kozlowski said. “Everybody had a blast.”
Baldermann said he was happy to have led a team.
“I was very happy to participate,” Baldermann said. “The Advocates for Acceptance did a wonderful job for their first event. As mayor, I’m proud of how our community cares for each other, especially those that have different abilities.”
Also part of the fun, everyone who played had the chance to win four White Sox tickets, as well as gift certificates geared toward recreation at Kids Can Do in Mokena. Kozlowski was ecstatic about the event’s success.
“It was so much fun,” she said. “I can’t believe everything came together perfectly.
“I would love for this to be an annual thing.”
Advocates for Acceptance is also teaming up with the Joliet Slammers for a fundraiser at the team’s game on Aug. 24. Tickets are $10 each. Half of each purchase price benefits the organization, but the tickets must be purchased through the QR code provided by Advocates For Acceptance. Those purchasing tickets will be seated with the organization, and one child will be chosen to throw out a pitch. Scan the Zelle QR code provided in the image below. Tickets will be at Will Call under the name on the Zelle payment.
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