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May 4, 2007

"Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside –- children have their own agendas and timescales. As they find out more about their world and their place in it; they work hard not to let adults hurry them. We need to hear their voices." --Cathy Nutbrown

So That All May Play

Justin Clemens loves baseball. Cerebral palsy may limit this 13-year-old's use of his left arm and both legs, but he plays his favorite sport on the Montgomery Miracle League. With help from parents and coaches he swings at pitches and scoots to first base with his walker. "When he's going for home, he feels like a million bucks," says his mother. For the most part, baseball diamonds are unplayable for people with wheelchairs and walkers. That's why five years ago, Diane Alford in Conyers, Ga. started the movement to fund parks that cater to those with physical challenges. Today, there are 17 Miracle Leagues operating across America. Another 61 fields are in some phase of construction, helping to fulfill Diane's goal of 500 diamonds that would serve 1.3 million children. This article shares Justin's special story.