The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is proud to announce the 3rd annual presentation of the “Ability Transcends Challenges” (ATC) award series for 2026, recognizing businesses across all 30 Major League Baseball cities that have demonstrated a true commitment to disability inclusion and employment. This marks a major milestone for the program, expanding from 20 honored cities in 2025 to full league-wide coverage of all 30 clubs in 2026.
PBATS members believe that people with disabilities have an important role to play in America. In 2014, using illustrations from baseball, PBATS developed the Ability Transcends Challenges (ATC) program to demonstrate that people with disabilities can, and should, be a significant engine in the life of our country, if given the opportunity.
In 2015, as part of the ATC program, PBATS collaborated with Topps to produce a first-of-its-kind baseball card set featuring MLB players with disabilities, titled Pride & Perseverance. From Jim Abbott to Curtis Pride to Jim Abbott and many others, baseball has long shown a commitment to inclusivity, and PBATS believes the American workplace should be no different.
That belief became a formal awards program in 2024, and in 2025, when PBATS partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to honor businesses in Major League Baseball cities nationwide for their work creating inclusive workplaces.
In 2026, PBATS is completing that vision, presenting the ATC award to 30 businesses across all 30 MLB cities that have gone above and beyond to create meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These organizations, ranging from bakeries and coffee shops to media studios and workforce development centers, represent the breadth of what inclusive hiring can look like in communities across the country.
The businesses receiving the 2026 award include:
- Arlington: Hugs Cafe, Inc.
- Atlanta: SliceAbility
- Baltimore: Jewish Community Services – Ignite Center
- Boston: Collettey’s Cookies
- Chicago: Will’s Place
- Chicago: Misericordia
- Cincinnati: Brewhaus Handcrafted Dog Bones
- Cleveland: Cleveland Sight Center
- Denver: Brewability
- Detroit: Rising Stars Academy
- Houston: Sandal Gap Studio
- Kansas City: Ability KC
- Los Angeles: Mychal’s Bakery
- Los Angeles: ICAN Long Beach
- Miami: No Limits Coffee Shop
- Milwaukee: Bonim Farms
- Minneapolis: Finley’s
- New York: Spectrum Designs
- New York: Project PossAbility
- Philadelphia: Popcorn for The People
- Phoenix: Beacon Group
- Pittsburgh: PAHrtners Deaf Services
- Sacramento: PRIDE Industries
- San Diego: Outside the Lens – Media Makers
- San Francisco: San Francisco Disability Business Alliance
- Seattle: Fearless Futures
- St. Louis: Starkloff Disability Institute
- Tampa: Coffee Uniting People
- Toronto: Lil E Coffee Cafe
- Washington, DC: Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn and Jake’s Ice Cream
“As athletic trainers, we spend our lives focused on the health and potential of the athletes we serve. But the Ability Transcends Challenges award reminds us that those same values — support, opportunity, and inclusion — belong in every corner of our communities,” said PBATS President Nick Kenney. “Reaching all 30 MLB cities this year has been a goal since we launched this program, and it’s a real testament to how many organizations out there are doing this work every day, often without much recognition. We’re proud to help tell their stories.”
PBATS’ partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society has been central to the ATC program’s growth since 2024, connecting the league’s 30 athletic training staffs with organizations doing this work in their own backyards.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with PBATS, and we are grateful for their commitment to advancing disability inclusion,” said National Down Syndrome Society CEO Kandi Pickard. “Together, we’re celebrating employers who see talent and possibility first, while helping build a future where every person with a disability has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.”
The award series has also drawn support from a longtime alliance partner, the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) — a group focused on disability employment nationwide.
“Congratulations to this year’s Ability Transcends Challenges Award recipients for expanding opportunity and unlocking our workforce’s potential,” said Julie Hocker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. “Their commitment to recognizing the talents and contributions of Americans with disabilities is creating workplaces where everyone has the chance to succeed. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, these employers remind us that opportunity, independence, and the dignity of work remain defining American values.”
As part of the recognition, each honored business will receive a personalized award plaque, further connecting the world of professional sports with these outstanding community leaders.
For more information about the Ability Transcends Challenges award series, please visit pbats.com/atc or contact Sam Radbil, PBATS Director of Communications & Partnerships.
About PBATS: The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is an organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of baseball players at all levels, while also engaging in community outreach and educational initiatives.