April is Autism Awareness Month. But at H.A.R.D. No. 1, the belief that every child deserves a place to play is something we practice every single month of the year.

There is a moment and feeling that every parent of a child with exceptionalities knows. It’s the moment you watch kids run onto a field together, and you wonder if your child will ever have that. Or if there’s a team out there for them. If anyone has thought to make an adaptive space for a kid like yours.

We’ll we’ve thought about it. A lot, and have been providing that space for 7 years. Our team at Hammond Area Recreation District No. 1 has built something for you and your child!

It is called ASPIRE, and it might just change your child’s life the way it has changed Raymond’s.

From the PlayStation to the Basketball Court

“When we started, one thing that stood out to us was the buddy system. Raymond was partnered with a mentor who walked him through every bit of the process. He even taught him a little high-five, and he loved it. We still do that together! It really opened his eyes to wanting to play basketball, because before that, he just didn’t seem interested in anything else. He’s always been a bit anti-social and just wants to play his video game. I thought there was no way to get him away from his PlayStation. But when I heard about this program, I asked him if he wanted to try basketball, and he said ‘yes.’ So, we brought him here, and well, he fell in love with it. It helped get him out of just sitting at home all the time. He even tried out for his school team and became their manager! I’m really proud of what he’s accomplished. No matter what your child might be dealing with, I think it’s worth trying out ASPIRE because the kids and coaches are very patient. You never know how something like this might impact your child’s life, so give it a shot!”

— Raymond’s Mom

Raymond’s story is not an outlier. It is what ASPIRE was designed to create.

What Is ASPIRE?

ASPIRE stands for Adaptive Sports Programs for Inclusive Recreation and Engagement. It is H.A.R.D. No. 1’s dedicated program for children with exceptionalities. It offers a safe, structured, and fun environment where every child can participate in sport on their terms.

Here is what families need to know:

• Free of charge. Always
• Open to children ages 4 to 18
• Co-ed and fully inclusive
• Sports offered include soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, tee-ball, and cheer and dance
• Adaptive accommodations are even built into our major community events as well, including our adaptive hunt at our Easter Eggstravaganza and a sensory friendly hour at our Tots of Terror Halloween event.

Every sport is adapted to meet athletes where they are. Every child is paired with a buddy who walks alongside them through the experience, just like Raymond’s mentor who taught him that high-five. It’s a place for your athlete to feel like they belong!

Why Inclusive Sports Programming Matters

Nationally, the conversation around equity in youth sports has grown louder. The National Recreation and Park Association’s 2025 Youth Sports Report found that only 39 percent of recreation agencies across the country currently offer adaptive or inclusive sports activities. That means most communities are still leaving children with exceptionalities on the sidelines. But not us!

The research is clear about what sport does for young people. It builds confidence, social skills, and physical health. It creates belonging. And for children with exceptionalities, those benefits are amplified. The structure of a team, the repetition of a practice, the joy of scoring a basket or kicking a goal, these are not small things. For many families, they are life-changing.

What Families Are Saying

“They are so encouraging here and so supportive, and just the support alone and the kids wanting to come back every week and asking to come back and play multiple sports. I just encourage anyone that’s interested in or thinking about the possibility of joining to just come check it out.”

— Jack’s Mom

That phrase, “asking to come back,” tells you everything. These are children who want to be here. Who are finding something on these fields and courts that they have not found anywhere else.

That is the goal of ASPIRE. Not just participation. Belonging.

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There Is a Spot on This Team for Your Child

If you have been holding back, wondering if your child would be welcome, wondering if the coaches would have the patience, wondering if your kid would find a friend, we want to answer those questions directly.

Yes. Yes. And yes.

ASPIRE is free, it is open to all children ages 4 to 18 with exceptionalities, and registration is as simple as visiting our website and filling out a form. Our staff is ready to answer your questions and walk your family through every step of the process, including that all-important first day.

You never know how something like this might impact your child’s life. So give it a shot.

A Note for Recreation Professionals and Facility Directors

If you are a recreation director, adaptive sports coordinator, or parks and recreation professional reading this, we want to talk to you too.

Building an inclusive program from the ground up is hard work. ASPIRE didn’t happen overnight. It took intentional program design, staff training, community outreach, and a commitment to serving every child in our community.

What we have learned is this: the families who need these programs the most are often the least likely to show up on day one. They have been turned away before. They have been told there is no room for a kid like theirs. Their trust has to be earned, and it is earned through consistency, patience, and showing up for these families the way we ask them to show up for us.

If you are looking to develop or expand your own inclusive programming, we are happy to share what has worked for us. Reach out. This work is too important for any of us to figure out alone.

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Learn More About ASPIRE

Program:  Free | Ages 4–18 | Co-Ed | Year-Round  

Sports:  Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Tee-Ball, Cheer and Dance  

Register:  Visit us at here! 

Questions?  Contact our team through the website or reach out on social media.

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