Kerman High hosts softball program for kids with special needs

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Central Valley offers plenty of opportunities for softball at school, clubs and recreation leagues.

Students with special needs are taking a swing at the sport and succeeding and the softball skills challenge is on at Kerman High School, and over 160 Students from Fresno County adapted physical education programs take the field.

"We did the baseball throw, hitting the baseball, running bases," student Daniel Torres said.

Some things are modified but the focus is on abilities, not disabilities.

"A lot of our kids are kinesthetic learners," Ben Canzano with the Fresno County Office of Education said. "They're visual learners, and so coming out here and being able to throw a ball and being cheered on and being supported it gives them a self-esteem boost, it makes them a happier, healthier person."

Leadership students and members of the Kerman High softball team are there for extra support.

"It makes my heart so warm just seeing them even with them just having a smile on their face," Kerman High junior Cynthia Montalvo said. "It's so beautiful to me like amazing to me it makes me have a good time when they smile, that's when I smile."

Sebastian is a Dodgers fan, his mother enjoys watching him and his peers stay active.

"If you have a special child, treat them the same," parent Martha Gonzalez said. "Let them go out there and give it their all cause they like doing it too. He sees my other kids playing and wants to play too."

The smiles on this day prove sports are for everyone.

"It makes me excited to play softball at the Kerman High School," Daniel said. "Home of the lions."