We first told you about the “A” league last year. It began when the mother of an autistic boy couldn’t find a baseball league in which her son could be part of the team and be understood by coaches and teammates. Pretty soon, she found there were other parents who were looking for the same thing. And they started a league of their own.
Since that report a lot has changed. The Autism Youth Sports League has grown, from 50 children to 200 in a short period of time. The founder, Lora Mancini, along with fellow board member and coach Manuel Zapata, expanded the league into other sports that go year-round. Now the league offers bowling, karate, soccer, even hip hop.
“I put my child in mainstream sports and it was not working out. This was the best solution for all ages 4 –18, all abilities. We modify everything. We have added extensive programs because socialization is the biggest thing for these kids,” Mancini said. “So by adding these programs, we allow these kids to continue friendships; make new friendships which a lot of them don’t have outside the home or the school.”
Joann Ramos brought her son Mario to the league after she saw our first report: “His focus has improved and his socialization skills, he carries on spontaneous conversations where he never did before,” she said.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
“This has brought up an opportunity for my son not to be judged,” said Blanca Haq, whose son, Omar, is currently taking karate.
Omar Haq says he is meeting a lot of friends in the class, and he is aiming for a black belt.
“It teaches me how to fight from bullies so bullies don’t hurt you,” he said.
“We need to push them. And we do, we do not disable these children. Autism does not have them. They have autism, but it does not define them,” Mancini said.
