BASEBALL COACH: CARROLLTON ALTERNATIVE BASEBALL

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My name is Taylor Duncan! I am 24 years old from Dallas, Georgia, and I have autism. I am also the commissioner/director of the Alternative Baseball Organization, a 501c3 developmental baseball program for teens 15+ and adults with autism and special needs. We're trying to find more volunteers and those who want to coach to bring Alternative Baseball to serve those in their communities...

When I was much younger, I had speech issues, anxiety issues, and more that came with having autism... I wasn't able to participate in competitive sports due to the developmental delays, in addition to social stigma (preconceived ideas) from those who think what one with autism can and cannot become capable of. With the help of my mom, teachers, mentors, and coaches who believed in me, I've gotten to where I am today in my life: To live with the goal to inspire, raise awareness, and acceptance for autism and special needs globally through the sport of baseball.

As many with autism graduate from high school in many areas, services plateau. In a lot of suburban and rural areas, there are no services for those to continue their path toward independence. Many have to go to the City to find the limited services which may or may not be available to their specific needs. Realizing the need in most areas, I started this organization to give others on the spectrum/special needs the opportunity to be accepted for who they are and to be encouraged to be the best they can be!

The program follows Major League rules (wood bats, base stealing, dropped third strike, etc.), and is a true typical team experience for others on the autism spectrum and special needs to help develop social skills for later in life. Alternative Baseball is growing across its Southeastern base (and beyond) has clubs around Greater Atlanta, Greater Huntsville, Chattanooga, Jersey City, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Ormond Beach, Greater West Palm Beach, Gastonia (NC), Statesville/Mooresville (NC), Spartanburg (SC), Macon (GA), and the Chattahoochee Valley (Columbus, GA/Phenix City, AL/Auburn, AL). The organization was recently commemorated as a Community Hero at an Atlanta Braves game and has been featured on ESPN's BASEBALL TONIGHT and NBC's Weekday TODAY Show. I am also the 2019 recipient of the J.B. Hawkins Humanitarian Award, awarded by the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame at their induction ceremony in Macon.

All of our clubs are always looking for new players and volunteers. Players can be of all experience levels. We take them from where they start out at (whether they require to be pitched to slow overhand or hit off the tee), and help develop their physical and social skills. We are also looking for coaches and managers to further expand around the Southeastern region to form new area leagues! Any help is appreciated! Thank you for your time!

(See our segment from ESPN's Baseball Tonight here!: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=23353934. Also, please take at look at my TedXAtlanta talk on providing more opportunities in and outside of sports for those with autism and other special needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0RGXug-WV4)