Celebrating Inclusion: Recap of the 2025 Ability Transcends Challenges Awards
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), proudly concluded its 2025 Ability Transcends Challenges (ATC) Awards campaign—celebrating 20 outstanding businesses across Major League Baseball (MLB) cities that champion inclusion and disability employment in meaningful and impactful ways.
Pictured above: Brad Epstein of the Milwaukee Brewers athletic training staff presents the ATC award to the Inclusion Coffee Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Now in its second year, the ATC Awards program continues to gain momentum. Launched as a way to highlight businesses that go above and beyond in hiring, supporting, and empowering individuals with disabilities, this year’s effort has expanded significantly—reaching two-thirds of MLB cities with plans for full nationwide inclusion in the coming years. The 2025 honorees represent a diverse cross-section of industries, from hospitality and healthcare to fitness, food service, education, and public service. Each business exemplifies the values of opportunity, accessibility, and community impact.
Recognizing Local Champions in Every City
Pictured above: Nick Kenney, PBATS President and member of the Kansas City Royals athletic training staff presents the ATC award to The Golden Scoop in Kansas City.
Each award presentation took place in the heart of its respective MLB city, often with athletic trainers, front office executives, and community leaders on hand to recognize the award recipients in person. These local ceremonies served as powerful reminders of how sports—especially baseball—can bring communities together around a shared mission of inclusivity and empowerment.
In Boston, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress — Your Next Star Employment Center was recognized for its workforce placement efforts that continue to expand employment access statewide. In Milwaukee, Inclusion Coffee Company was honored for offering both employment and vocational training in a welcoming, accessible environment. In Pittsburgh, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee—a company known for its culture of hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—was recognized for transforming everyday moments into opportunities for inclusion.
Each of the 20 honorees—whether a small coffee shop, a regional nonprofit, or a city program—has committed to building workplaces that are representative, supportive, and driven by the belief that every individual brings value to the table when given the chance.
Expanding the Role of Athletic Trainers in the Inclusion Conversation
Pictured above: Brad Pearson of the Red Sox athletic training staff presents the 2025 award at Fenway Park in Boston
This campaign is more than just an award—it is a reflection of PBATS’ growing commitment to community impact beyond the training room. Athletic trainers, long known for supporting player performance and recovery, are now stepping into a larger conversation around equity and opportunity in professional sports and the communities that surround them. Through the ATC Awards and longstanding programs like the PLAY Campaign, PBATS continues to promote education and advocacy through action.
By working directly with NDSS, PBATS is not only recognizing these inclusive employers but also sharing resources and creating space for education about disability rights and workforce opportunity. The goal is to use the visibility of professional baseball—and the trusted voices of athletic trainers—as a platform to inspire other businesses and leaders to make inclusion a core part of their mission.
A Growing Movement with a Bright Future
The 2025 ATC campaign represents significant progress in normalizing disability employment in the world of professional sports. Through every award presentation, social media highlight, and photo shared across PBATS.com and beyond, the message was clear: inclusion is not a special initiative—it’s a standard we should all strive for.
This year’s effort not only expanded the geographic reach of the awards but also deepened their impact by connecting athletic trainers, MLB teams, and business leaders to celebrate what’s possible when barriers are removed. With strong momentum, the campaign is expected to grow in 2026 as more MLB cities get involved and more businesses commit to creating accessible and inclusive workplaces.
Pictured above: Employees at Spencer’s Place in Phoenix, Arizona accept the ATC award.
PBATS extends sincere appreciation to all 20 honorees for setting the bar high, to NDSS for their continued partnership and advocacy, and to every athletic trainer and team representative who took time to participate in recognizing these remarkable organizations. The impact made this season will resonate far beyond the field.
The full list of businesses receiving the 2025 awards include:
- Anaheim: Occupational and Academic Skills for Independence & Success (OASIS) Program
- Baltimore: Sunflower Bakery
- Boston: Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress — Philip Donahue Your Next Star Employment Center (pictured above)
- Chicago: Search Inc. & Gerry’s Café
- Cincinnati: Project LIFE–Butler Tech
- Cleveland: Stakes Manufacturing
- Dallas: My Possibilities
- Denver: TACT
- Detroit: Mi Work Matters
- Kansas City: The Golden Scoop
- Los Angeles: Career Options through Academic Support and Training (COAST) Program
- Miami: Our Grounds
- Milwaukee: Inclusion Coffee Company
- Philadelphia: So Much To Give Inclusive Café
- Phoenix: Spencer’s Place
- Pittsburgh: Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
- San Diego: The Arc of San Diego
- San Francisco: The Arc SF
- Seattle: Washington Initiative for Supported Employment
For more information about the ATC program, please visit: pbats.com/atc