Spring Issue 2021

EXCEPTIONAL SPORTS
When parents are looking for a
recreational/sports program for their
child, they don’t always find the right
fit. This can be true for typically developing
children, but perhaps even more so
for children with challenges. Park
districts typically offer accommodations,
and special recreation associations
and/or Special Olympics may fit the bill
for some families, but other families go
their own way.
weeks. The program has served 50-80
athletes weekly. Its initiatives include
a bowling program that has met 3
Saturdays monthly at a local alley
called Bowlero. The program charges
a nominal fee to bowlers and is
otherwise supported with (generally)
tax deductible donations. The program
was named the Murrieta Chamber of
Commerce Non-Profit of the Year for
2019. The mission of the program is
social interaction through recreation (in
One such family founded Exceptional
other words, fun and conversation).
Sports, based in the southern California
wine country town of Murrietta.
This program, like just about everything
we have taken for granted, was
Exceptional Sports started about 10
years ago, to fill a gap created when
Special Olympics cut its program
suspended due to COVID-19. The
organizers hope to start up again
soon. For more information visit their
locally down from year-round to 10
Facebook page.
M
The founder of Exceptional Sports is Jeffrey Nickerson,
19
a “special needs” parent and lawyer specialized in estate planning and special
needs trusts. He and his wife run the Exceptional Sports program together.