The mission of an LGBTQ+ athlete with Cerebral Palsy

We’d like to highlight one of our league’s most passionate athletes: Amie Kroessing. Amie is a fierce advocate for people with special needs in the LGBTQ+ community and has never let her disability hold her back. Amie has written a blog post My Story Playing Soccer With Cerebral Palsy for Cerebral Palsy Guide that we think will be inspiring to our members. It explores her journey of living with cerebral palsy and actively participating in soccer. Contrary to misconceptions, soccer isn't just a sport for the able-bodied; it's a game that transcends physical limitations. Through adaptive programs and specialized equipment, individuals with disabilities can experience the joy and camaraderie of playing sports which can be essential to building confidence and overcoming personal fears.

Amie has also shared a Resource guide for LGBTQ+ Parents of Children with Special Needs. It provides guidelines for understanding your child’s disability, finding a healthcare provider, dealing with LGBTQ+ discrimination, and access financial assistance and medical resources for your child. We highly recommend checking out both of these resources and hope that they can help you and your family overcome obstacles associated with having special needs and being LGBTQ+.