Kalin Bennett is a true trailblazer. In November, he became the first person with autism to sign a national letter of intent to play a team sport at the Division I level. Bennett, a 6’10”, 300-pound big man from Little Rock, Arkansas will play basketball at Kent State University next year, a truly remarkably accomplishment considering he didn't say his [...]
Jacob Meister, a 17-year-old junior at Bradford High in Pennsylvania who has cerebral palsy and autism, has been a huge supporter of his school's wrestling team. So, when he got the chance to take to the mat himself, it was a dream come true. His match, which came against teammate Dillon Keane, was the grand finale on Jan. 3 and [...]
With the swipe of a pen and basketball talent that Kent State University was drawn to, Kalin Bennett made history by becoming the first person with autism to sign a national letter of intent to play a team sport at the Division I level. By inking his name, Bennett, a 6'10", 300-pound big man from Little Rock, Arkansas, will receive [...]
Surf Dog Ricochet has been helping people with special needs surf for a decade now. The beloved golden retriever who constantly wags her tail when she's near the water will be featured in a new IMAX film being released in the spring of 2019 called "Superpower Dogs." The film will highlight other courageous four-legged stars who make life better for [...]
Tarik El-Abour couldn't speak until he was 6 years old. Instead, he let his baseball bat do the talking for him. Now 25, he's made history by becoming the first person with autism to sign a professional contract with a minor-league team. El-Abour, an outfielder who was raised in San Marino, California, was signed by the Kansas City Royals organization [...]
At this point in their lives, it's fair to say Alex and Jamie Schneider tell the world their story with their legs rather than their voices. The 27-year-old identical twins from Great Neck, N.Y. have a form of autism so severe that they're completely non-verbal and require 24-hour-a-day care. However, in running shoes and out on the roads, they're making [...]
For those with autism, attending a sporting event can be extremely stressful. Between a roaring crowd, blaring music, fireworks and thousands of people walking around, the inherent overstimulation keeps many families from stepping inside large arenas to catch a live ballgame. However, thanks to one family's efforts, Cleveland Cavaliers fans who have autism can now get a break from the [...]
It was an incredible year for us at Purpose2Play. In April, we became a proud affiliate of FanSided, the fastest-growing digital content network in sports. With the move, the powerful and often under-the-radar sports stories we provide have flourished, and we cannot wait for 2018 and another year of telling the sports stories that deserve to be told. But first, [...]
Purpose2Play's top three most read articles for November were all about those gritty marathon (and ultramarathon) runners. But, there's so much more to them than pure endurance. Here are our top five stories for the month: 5. Get a sneak peek of the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson: New venue, new excitement, and same great cause For most of us, golf [...]
Why worry about speaking when your running can do the talking for you? Identical twins Alex and Jamie Schneider, 27, have a severe form of autism that requires 24-hour per day care. They may not be able to cross the street by themselves, but out on the roads, they're distance runners who are turning heads and doing more than holding [...]
