BUCYRUS — March was Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
The Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities had several activities to raise awareness and encourage inclusion in the community.
These culminated with the annual Unified Basketball Exhibition at Bucyrus High School Friday Night. All Crawford County high schools were represented by both boys and girls athletes.
The size of the crowd indicated how popular this event has become.
“Every year, it gets a little bit bigger,” board superintendent Court Sturts said. “This year, they pulled out the top bleachers and the bottom’s full, the top’s full.
“The goal is Awareness Month Inclusion,” he added. “So, the more people who come out and see this, the more likely we can achieve that goal.”
And the atmosphere was as electric as any high school basketball game. Both the high school players and those with disabilities enjoyed the game.
The Light Gray team defeated the Dark Gray team, 63-37. But no one paid attention to the final score. One thing stood out: Those with disabilities stepped aside for others with even more severe disabilities.
“They really represent taking care of each other,” Sturts said. “Giving up an easy basket to give it to somebody else, that’s something we can all learn from.”
Like most basketball games, there were 3-point shots, buzzer beaters, fast breaks, and dunks. But the unselfishness of all the players was the theme.
Admission to the event was free, but donations of food and laundry and hygiene products were accepted, along with monetary donations.
“Any non-perishable food item goes to the county board food pantry,” Sturts said. “So, anyone that lives in Crawford County that may have a disability, or their family, we maintain a food pantry for that. Any monetary donations, the shirt sales, the 50-50, the concessions, that goes to the Special Olympics.”
The night included peripherals of an average high school game. The Bucyrus pep band performed, there was a pep squad, a 50-50 draw, and even an announcer.
Also, winners of the coloring contest and the poster/media competition were announced, and prizes were awarded.
Sturts thanked all the high schools and the Bucyrus administration for hosting. The administration indicated that it is interested in continuing to host.
“We can’t do this without community support, from our attendees to our committees that have all kinds of private providers,” Sturts said. “Every high school provides two athletes. They do coloring contests, a poster contest. All the high schools, the community really, help us and embrace us. That’s what it takes to accomplish our mission.”
Sturts reiterated the reason for the basketball game and the other activities during March.
“Our mission is to have people with developmental disabilities to be welcomed, to be part of, be included in the community,” Sturts said. “And March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This is just one of our activities to try to promote that.”