PBATS Honors Businesses Championing Disability Employment Across 20 MLB Cities
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) is proud to announce 2nd annual presentation of the “Ability Transcends Challenges” (ATC) award series for 2025, an initiative aimed at recognizing businesses in 20 Major League Baseball cities that have demonstrated a true commitment to disability employment. This award is being made in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
BOSTON – Brad Pearson, Red Sox Vice President of Sports Medicine and PBATS Board Member, presents the ATC award on August 3rd at Fenway Park (photo courtesy of Keith Toffling Photography)
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 which demonstrates that people with disabilities can 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 George Springer, and many others, baseball has always shown an incredible commitment to inclusivity for all people and PBATS believes the American workplace is no different.
In 2025, PBATS presented the ATC award to 20 businesses across the country that have gone above and beyond to create inclusive workplaces, providing meaningful opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These businesses serve as beacons of progress, setting a standard for what it means to champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The 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
“As athletic trainers, we spend our lives focused on the health, strength, and potential of the athletes we serve. But the Ability Transcends Challenges award reminds us that those same values—support, opportunity, inclusion—belong in every corner of our communities. These organizations are doing the hard, meaningful work of creating space for individuals with disabilities to thrive, to contribute, and to be seen for everything they bring to the table,” said PBATS President Nick Kenney.
Kenney added, “This award is about more than recognition. It’s about listening to our peers in these 20 MLB cities who have identified programs making a real difference. It’s about amplifying voices and missions that deserve more attention. And it’s about reaffirming that as athletic trainers, we are not only committed to the athletes in our care, but also to being leaders and advocates for equity and dignity in the places we call home. We’re proud to stand beside these incredible organizations and help tell their stories and hope to present awards in all 30 MLB cities in 2026 and beyond.”
Kandi Pickard, President and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, also shared her excitement about the collaboration, saying, “The National Down Syndrome Society is delighted to partner with PBATS on this important initiative. Businesses that prioritize inclusivity not only enrich their own work environments but also lead by example, showing the world the incredible value that individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. We applaud all of the 2025 award winners for their commitment to this cause and look forward to celebrating the deserving recipients of the Ability Transcends Challenges award.”
“We are proud to join our partners at PBATS in honoring this year’s ATC Award winners,” said Brian Walsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. “As we look ahead to National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, we salute all businesses that celebrate the value and talent that people with disabilities bring to America’s workplaces. Today, on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, we also recognize that these organizations uphold the ideals that formed our great nation nearly 250 years ago.”
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.
About the National Down Syndrome Society: Founded in 1979, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions. The organization’s work is achieved through three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Advocacy & Policy, and Community Engagement.