Atlanta Teens Find Community in Wheelchair Basketball

In Atlanta, the BlazeSports Junior Hawks wheelchair basketball program is empowering young athletes with physical disabilities. This adaptive sport offers a dynamic competitive outlet and a much-needed sense of community for participants. Braxton Munkel, 17, who has relied on a wheelchair since birth, finds the program essential for social connection, stating, "It gives you the community that you really need." He highlights the importance of an environment where everyone shares similar experiences.

Coach Jason Joines, whose own son played for the Junior Hawks, remains involved because of the program's profound impact. He emphasizes how the organization helps young individuals develop into fully independent members of society. Thirteen-year-old Titus Stere, managing a mitochondrial disorder, also describes the sport as life-changing, contributing to his personal growth and helping him expend energy. The Junior Hawks' season commences in October, continuing the legacy of BlazeSports America, founded after the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta.