(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — At Neuro Heroes Sports Camp, kids with disabilities can play sports freely, without judgment.
"We have different obstacle courses set up for different activities: basketball, bowling, soccer," said Michael “Juice” Thompson, the president of Juice Hoops Foundation, which runs the Neuro Heroes Sports Camp.
Juice Hoops Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers inclusive and uplifting programs, services and experiences for underserved and neurodiverse youth and their families.
"We're leveraging that with basketball as a way to instill confidence, you know, teach life lessons, develop skills and also develop relationships that lead to greater opportunity for everyone."
Thompson, who's a former professional basketball player, says he started the foundation after his own experiences caring for a neurodiverse child.
"I have a 10-year-old that was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder, so just seeing the challenges that my family faced to provide resources for him, and other families that we met along this journey, decided to start a program and try to give them that outlet to be able to play sports."
The sports camps are something Kristina Navarro says give her 11-year-old son Michael the opportunity to do something he otherwise wouldn't be able to.
"The best thing about coming to this and getting to watch him just be free and have fun and not worrying about what's going on around him, or what people are thinking around him,” Navarro said.
“And to have the opportunity to be in a community of parents who go through the same things I go through.”
That's the sentiment of dozens of parents. Something Thompson says proves how important these spaces are.
"It's a really, really pressing need, and we're trying to continue to make that impact and growth to help those children get the opportunities. Because really feel like life, life is a team sport, so we need more people to be able to help and give back. It takes a village."
More information about Neuro Heroes can be found on the Juice Hoops Foundation website.
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