About Us

Organization Name: Kids In Disability Sports, Inc. ( K.I.D.S.)
Contact Phone: 1-866-712-7799
www.kidsinc.us
Organization’s Address:
220 Pawtucket St,
 Lowell, MA 01854

Organization’s Mission Statement: To improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through sports, social, recreational and educational programs. This will build confidence, character and self esteem; teach the value of teamwork and cooperation while providing the chance to develop meaningful, long lasting relationships. Every child should have equal opportunities.

Board of Directors
Fred Wilkie - President
James Ryan - Treasurer
Richard Lalime. Esq. - Secretary/Clerk
Daniel Newell
Gary Gordon
Dan Bourret
Joe Kirane
Denise Mercier

Organization Background:

Founded in 1995, Kids in Disability Sports, Inc. was incorporated as a 501(c) (3) organization in 1999.

Providing social and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities was the main goal of the Lowell, Massachusetts based group. K.I.D.S. began offering specialized basketball and bowling programs for kids with disabilities at no cost and no child is turned away. Today, thirteen specialized athletic programs are available and. K.I.D.S. also hosts dances, sports banquets, social activities and recreational events throughout the year. In addition, K.I.D.S.,Inc. has partnered with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell to provide an Educational Program. Quickly K.I.D.S. grew from a small idea to provide for an ‘unseen’ population into an organization that serves individuals and families throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. This fast paced growth shows that individuals and families were yearning for a community based program that saw the potential, not the limitations within everyone.

K.I.D.S. has developed tremendous support throughout the community. K.I.D.S. is able to run programs year round complete with awards banquets and social events for our athletes and members. The amazing community cooperation shows the overwhelming need for special needs programs. With such remarkable growth and encouragement K.I.D.S. is ready to move forward with the goal of an all inclusive sports and recreation facility.

Benefits: K.I.D.S. programs are providing people with disabilities many opportunities to get involved, learn new skills, develop long-term, meaningful friendships and give back to the community. These programs are also promoting healthier lifestyles and encouraging people to exercise to the best of their abilities. Some of the benefits that K.I.D.S. members have experienced include: greater self-esteem, confidence, new friendships, healthier and more active lifestyles, involvement in new experiences and learning life skills.

Every individual strives to find their niche; a place where they feel comfortable being themselves and can be proud of who they are. Finding this place within a society based in exclusion and groupings rather than inclusion can be devastating. Remember the feeling of being picked last at recess, not knowing which table to sit at for lunch, being teased because of a particular accessory like glasses, trying to join a club hoping to find people that share your interests. Imagine that feeling as a constant 24 hour a day pressure. That is how young people with disabilities face each day. K.I.D.S. provides a place where these children and young adults are unconditionally accepted, where they feel “normal”.

For example; one member who joined us in 1995 at the age of 17; it was a difficult time for him. He was in a public high school where he was often made fun of because of his disability. He didn’t take part in any sports, had few friendships and his self-esteem and confidence suffered resulting in depression. Today, at the age of 27, he is an entirely different person. He is now involved in all the sports programs offered. He attends every dance and every recreational outing and now leads a much more fulfilling life. His confidence has improved; his mom can’t keep him off the phone, as he’s always talking to one friend or another, and his room is full of trophies from all the sports he is involved in. This is just one of the many examples of the difference that we are making in the lives of K.I.D.S. members.

Uniqueness: Participants range in age from 5 – 40 and have varying disabilities. These challenges include developmental delays, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Autism, Spinal Bifida, and many other diagnoses. Having such an array of ages and conditions creates a unique atmosphere where younger children are mentored and inspired by the older participants and the older participants are valued for the experiences they can share.

K.I.D.S. is managed and staffed with 100% volunteer services. Parents, family, friends and community members come together to coach, organize and support all of the K.I.D.S. programs and events.

Another factor that makes K.I.D.S. unique is the positive difference made in families’ lives. The financial stress of a child that needs constant supervision and/or medical interventions is enormous. Parents have left jobs because they are called away frequently for doctor appointments or school visits. Parents of medically needy children have increased care expenses. Children with physically disabilities use many modified devices for daily living that are not covered by traditional insurance. The budgeting of discretionary funds is minimal for many of these families, and K.I.D.S.,Inc. provides a needed, innovative option for them.

Many parents of disabled children feel isolated and alone, not knowing where to turn for help in how to cope with the challenges that a disability presents. The grief of having a child who is disabled is never truly resolved, it is a cyclical process. Every little league filled ball field, every child on the playground, a group of girls giggling as they wander the mall, seeing a new driver proud of his license can bring up that sense of loss and the “will my child ever know that joy?” “How will my child fit into society and be happy?” Once a parent comes to terms with the loss of the ‘typical’ child they had planned for they must then learn how to be a parent to their child who is disabled. Being a parent of a child who is disabled has been related to being a CEO of a small corporation. There are many roles, responsibilities and schedules you need to maintain in order for your child to live within the community. It is a difficult balancing act to maintain the role of ‘parent’ when you are also expected to be nurse, physical therapist, counselor, nutritionist, teacher, advocate, pharmacist, etc. The sense of community at K.I.D.S. provides parents with an opportunity to reach out, share information and develop friendships that are just as strong as the ones their children have made. The sense of normalcy, acceptance and understanding that K.I.D.S. provides is priceless.
 

Organization’s Reach:
 K.I.D.S. Inc. has no geographical boundaries.
We accept athletes from any city or town, or state. We currently serve over 350 kids and young adults from the following towns:
Andover
Ayer
Billerica
Bradford
 Burlington
Chelmsford
Dracut
 Dunstable
Framingham
Groton
Hudson, NH
Lawrence
Lowell
Medway
Merrimack
Methuen
 Nashua, NH
Natick
North Andover
North Chelmsford
North Reading
Pelham, NH
Pepperell
Salem, NH
Tewksbury
Tyngsboro
 Westford
Weymouth

 

Kids In Disability Sports, Inc.
220 Pawtucket St
Lowell, MA 01854
Kids In Disability Sports, Inc. does not
discriminate based on race, color, creed,
age, sexual orientation or national origin.

© Copyright 2001 Kids In Disability Sports
501(c)(3) Organization