 In
most respects, Ricky, age 5, is an average kid: competitive,
inquisitive, and bursting with energy. He loves playing
basketball and floor hockey with his older brother Robbie,
and longs to play with other kids his age. But opportunities
are limited: Ricky suffers from achondroplasia, a form
of dwarfism. “Ricky was told he’s ineligible
for most organized sports teams, which is a shame because
he loves playing sports and he’s really athletic,” said
his mother, Janet.
Then Janet heard about Y Kids—a program at the
North Area YMCA that integrates children with special
needs in activities with average kids. At Y Kids, the
brothers can play their favorite sports together, and
Janet can be confident that Ricky will be given the care
and supervision that he needs. Perhaps just as important
to the family, is the network of supports that link Janet
to staff and other parents at the Y. “It’s
really nice for them to be able to play together here,” Janet
says. “When we first found out about his condition,
we were petrified—we didn’t know what to
expect. But if we knew then what we know now, we wouldn’t
have been scared at all.”
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