The Starting Line

The idea for Athletes 4 Autism began in summer 2011. Kevin Gilroy, #16 of Boston University’s men’s ice hockey team, spent his off-season giving clinic lessons to kids of all ages and abilities. Talking about how expensive a one-on-one session with a high-level athlete could be, Kevin and I wondered if there was any way parents could better justify the high cost of athletic clinics in a tough economic climate with more than the idea of “paying for quality.”

What if that “payment” was actually a donation? What if that donation served to give kids with challenges in sport a chance to be a part of a team?

As a program of The Autism Research Foundation, Athletes 4 Autism exchanges sport mentoring sessions with professional-level athletes for a 100% tax-deductible donation to continued sport therapy and research in autism for a fraction of the usual cost.

At Athletes 4 Autism, we’re all about the WIN-WIN!

The Game Plan

A4A is open to kids with and without autism. Kids are matched with star athlete mentors based on their sport interest and ability, and kids can choose if they want to work with 1 or more athlete, individually or in a group, and if they want to mentor a new friend with autism to help them be a part of a team. Our outstanding student-athletes set the example for future outstanding student-athletes. 

Sports offered:

• Lacrosse 
• Crew
• Ice Hockey
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Track and Field
• Baseball
• Softball
• Tennis
• Wrestling

The Goal

We understand and want to celebrate that all kids are different. We also understand that a disorder like autism can make those differences more apparent in some kids than others. Our goals for all A4A kids are:

To Learn

• How to make friends
• How to ask to play with a group
• Rules of the game
• Coordination and balance
• New sport skills
• How to explain autism to someone who doesn’t know

To Listen

• To friends and teammates
• Understand body language
• Take direction from coaches

To Lead

• Stand up to bullying
• Invite kids with challenges to play with them
• Encourage teamwork
• Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves

When we’re aiming for awareness and acceptance, everybody plays for the same team.

The Future Legacy

With more funding, A4A will be expanding to include a wider variety of collegiate and professional athletes, field days, showcase tournaments, and having representative teams in the Special Olympics.

Continuing to make sport the common denominator teaches tomorrow’s employers, educators and policy makers to include everyone and appreciate their differences.