As I walked up the stairs for STAR basketball you could hear all the action of balls bouncing on the court, kids laughing, and feet running. It was the last day of the STAR basketball program – a program for children with special needs that has grown from 10 children to over 30 in just four years. Via the efforts and generosity of the Capano family, The Edge, and South Burlington High School, 32 children all with various disabilities have come together to learn and play basketball. The positive impact it has had on them in obvious in their happy expressions. This program has made an incredible impact on children with special needs. Thirty-two children challenged by a variety of disabilities are out on one basketball court and having a fun. It is a beautiful thing to see.
As usual, Leslie and Chris Capano have thought of everything: structuring the program, matching students up, getting t-shirts for children and mentors, taking pictures, having an award ceremony, and bringing in special guests. Kayla, a veteran at the program, is well aware of the routine and what to expect. She gets especially excited about the final day, anticipating the pizza, awards ceremony and seeing who shows up at the end.
Each year, Leslie and Chris have been able to get members from both the UVM basketball teams to come on the last day. The players have eagerly engaged with all the children, eaten pizza with them, signed posters, and cheered for the STAR participants when they have each received their awards. Yesterday, Ethan O’Day, Ernie Duncan, Trae Bell-Haynes, Josh Hearily, and Payton Henson from the UVM mens team showed up to spend time with these children who were learning the game of basketball.
These are Division 1 basketball players who’s athletic ability is beyond the norm. They can dunk, shoot threes, have incredible dribbling skills, and run fast. They show up to play with children that are having difficulty walking, don’t have the motor skills to dribble, the strength to shoot, or the ability to communicate. But their size, 6’2 and over, doesn’t intimidate the STAR players. These kids play right along with them like there is no difference!
The student athletes are not only great basketball players, they are also compassionate and generous young men and women who are taking their Saturday afternoon to spend time with children that aren’t as fortunate. For me, it goes to show the integrity of the players that some of the UVM coaches are recruiting. John Becker has great understanding and compassion for children with disabilities as he once coached a hearing impaired basketball team and has fostered his players to participate in STAR basketball. Jim Plumer, UVM womens’ hockey coach, willingly took on Kayla to be part of his team and treats her with utmost respect. Kevin Sneddon, UVM men’s hockey coach, has developed a great relationship with Jack Lyman and recruited him onto the hockey team 4 years ago.
The respect and compassion that the UVM athletic staff and players have shown to children with disabilities to the Edge for providing gym space for STAR basketball, as a community we are slowly making progress in including children with special needs into all aspects of our society enriching not only their lives but ours in the process. My hope is that we begin to see more programs for children with special needs grow like they have at STAR basketball. And as a community we need to continue to embrace these kids and show them that they belong. In a society that values sports and entertainment like ours, what better way for children with disabilities to understand and appreciate these values than to actively participate in them? As Kayla always says the best part of all these programs is feeling like you are “part of a team”.
Thanks again to the many people involved in STAR: Chris and Leslie Capano for running such an incredible program; Mike Feitelberg for embracing this program and giving up gym space at the Edge; all the incredible South Burlington junior high and high school players that come out and volunteer their time to mentor kids with various challenges; and the UVM athletes for giving up some time to come out and play hoops with the STAR athletes.
