Indianapolis Flames Alternative Baseball

By Brittany Lowe

It is no secret that there are difficulties with finding social environments for individuals with different abilities. Often families witness their children and/or loved one’s experience isolation and loneliness. Individuals with different abilities also desire a way to socialize and build relationships. Their desires are now becoming a reality!

The Indianapolis Flames Alternative Baseball Organization (ABO), Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Indianapolis, IN. The organization covers Central Indiana. We provide a positive, judgement free, social, and supportive environment for Autistic individuals and others with different abilities (ages 15 and up) through the game of baseball. The organization creates an environment where social skills and relationships can be built and maintained through the competitive game of baseball (played according to MLB rules). The Indianapolis Flames ABO will be split into two teams, Indianapolis Flames North and South for the first year. Depending on the number of players, the team would be split into four to represent different sides of town within Central Indiana, North, South, East, and West as soon as the second year.

The Alternative Baseball Organization originally started in Georgia by Taylor Duncan. Taylor Duncan is an Autistic adult, baseball player, CEO and Founder, and speaker who loves baseball and decided to start the organization to bring the game of baseball to individuals with different abilities. It will provide a social and competitive environment. The organization plays according to MLB rules. He had a mission to expand the Alternative Baseball Organization into different states across the country.

The Alternative Baseball Organizations slogan is powering through perceptions. There is this overwhelming focus that individuals with different abilities can’t do this and that, when in fact there is so much that they can do. There are talents and gifts that need support as well. It is through our focus on relationships and showing everyone what individuals with different abilities can do, our local organization slogan was developed for the Indianapolis Flames ABO, “Relationships and Talent Burning Bright Through Baseball.”

Expansion to Central Indiana

He reached out to my husband and I, parents of an autistic child, who also have an online statewide Facebook support group (Autism Parents’ Support Group of Indiana) where parents/guardians and autistic individuals have come together in providing support through knowledge obtained from personal experiences. The information for the team came through the group security questions. Once this request was read there was no doubt that this was something that we felt called to do. While our child is not old enough to play, we feel that this is something that is crucial to bring and maintain for years to come in Central Indiana for individuals with different abilities. Once I saw the request, I knew this was something that my husband, David Lowe would love to do. We became the General Managers and Founders of the Indianapolis Flames ABO. My husband is also the Team Manager/Head Coach of the Indianapolis Flames ABO North team, which brings focus to the on-field success. I feel this is a perfect fit because he is the brains behind baseball. I choose to focus on the things outside of the field while assisting with on-field as needed.

About the Team Manager/Head Coach

David Lowe’s love for baseball started at the age of 4, when he played t-ball. At the age of 5, he played for a team called the Warriors that was coached by his dad. His dad also worked with him outside of practice and games to help David achieve his goals. David Lowe’s mother supported him as well and obtained a pitching coach for him as this was something he loved to do. He played baseball until near the end of his high school career. Today, my husband and autistic son play baseball together. They both love and enjoy playing baseball. We have seen growth in our son playing and enjoying baseball. While this is only one area that we see our son has interest in, we will support and contribute to his goals and growth in whatever he wants to do. As he gets older, we will make sure he has a place where his talents can shine bright, to socialize, and build relationships.

We are not just trying to develop and maintain a place for our son, but for many others with different abilities as well. There are individuals receiving diagnoses every day. The hope is that the Indianapolis Flames ABO will be maintained so that everyone can play baseball and be a part of an organization that provides a social and supportive environment.

Safety

With COVID-19 there are changes and precautions added to our safety procedure development that will be communicated as they are finalized and follow standards. Safety is a priority for our organization and the pandemic is something that is monitored closely. We understand that there is a possibility the season may not start in mid-March of this year as planned but are remaining optimistic and planning as if it will.

Interested?

The Indianapolis Flames ABO is currently looking for players and volunteers. The cost for players is $10 the first year and $25 each year after that. Players must be individuals with different abilities (autistic and special needs and have received a diagnosis). There are no additional costs for the players. Volunteers do NOT have to be individuals with different abilities. Anyone can volunteer. Each volunteer that will be in contact with players has to complete and pass a background check. The fee for completing the background check is $19 each year.

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More information about the Indianapolis Flames ABO can be obtained by contacting indianapolisflamesabo@gmail.com. We are on Facebook and Instagram as well. The contact number (call/text/voicemail) is 317-893-7385.

We would like to close this article with a dedication to David Lowe’s mother, Dianna Peterson-Lowe. She was a loving mother and wife who will forever be missed. David’s parents always supported him and prepared him to be the best brother, husband, father, son, uncle and now coach that he could be. R.I.H. Dianna Peterson-Lowe.

If you would like to share your personal or family story, or to nominate someone else to be in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living, email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com.

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