Local Residents Providing Basketball Program for Special Needs Kids

Every Tuesday night, a group of kids gather at Ellington Middle School for a game of basketball.

This group is different than others that take the floor, however. These kids are part of a unified basketball league that is supported by the Ellington Recreation Department and sponsored by the CT WAVE.

The program allows kids from Ellington and the surrounding towns to participate in basketball one night a week with other children with physical and emotional disabilities. The kids play with “buddies,” who are teamed up with them by capabilities.

The program is run by Don and Kim Skewes, who started years ago as volunteers. They took over it when the person who started it stepped away. The program doesn’t receive funds except for donations - everything else is paid out of pocket by those who put it together.

“It comes down to a team effort with a great group of volunteers,” Don Skewes said.

Each year is eight weeks long, and then the kids have an end of the year party where the kids receive trophies and some form of gift. The cost to participate is $20. The players get reversible pinney shirts - that they get to keep - and the buddies get t-shirts.

When the kids come each week, they get to play for 45 minutes. They start with some skill drills - like dribbling, passing, etc. - and then they play a short game. There are two groups, one for the younger kids, and one for the older kids. Skewes said that the kids normally play through high school, but they had one player who was out of high school.

“We don’t say no to anybody,” he said.

According to Skewes, the buddies normally volunteer through high school, and then move on when they go to college. He said that most of the volunteers for this group are new. 

Skewes gave a lot of credit to the buddies, saying that they are young but are willing to help other kids who are less fortunate with nothing in return, other than maybe a thank you.

“Some of our buddies have never even dealt with special needs children and they step up and are great and go up and beyond,” he said.

Not only do the kids get to play and socialize with kids who are like them, but the parents also get some time to relax - and have the support of parents like them. Skewes said that the parents aren’t called upon unless they are needed.

“I think the important thing is they get 45 minutes to relax, talk to others in similar situations, and watch their kids just have fun,” Skewes said.

If you would like more information about the program, or would like to make a donation, please contact Skewes at 860-875-3707 or dskewes@comcast.net.