FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - March is Disabilities Awareness Month. President Reagan designated the month in 1987. The country has made progress for those with disabilities, but there's still a lot to be done, which is why a program like the adaptive soccer league at the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne is P ositively Fort Wayne. The sight is the same. A parent is on the sidelines of a weekend morning cheering on their kiddo playing youth sports. The same happens at the Jorgensen Family YMCA, except it is also adaptive sports being played. "Our mission is to be for all. So that includes people with diverse abilities. So we are really intentional to create programming and events for those people to make sure everybody has a reason or a way to succeed here at the Y," said Hannah Brooks, the adaptive sports coordinator. One of those people is 8-year-old Mark Braster III. "I wanted to get Mark involved in sports just so he knows as a person he can do anything anyone else can do whether he's in a walker or not. And just to prove to everybody that just because your kid is unique in their own way, doesn't mean they can't go out and play sports. Mark loves basketball, baseball, football, he's into hockey now," shared Mark's mom, Veronica Ochoa. ‘Todd’ goes the extra mile for Trail Buddies "As far as adaptive sports, we've been doing some form of them for about 7 years now. It started with Trail Buddies, which is a cycling program that we have. And then we've slowly grown it into all the sports Mark just talked about," said Hannah. The Y's adaptive sports are often a collaboration between various organizations. The Y also works to make sure it can be affordable for everyone by offering financial help when it can. And Veronica is grateful to be able to have Mark play because there aren't a lot of places offering adaptive sports. "I just sit here and just watch him conquer the world in his own way. And it's just motivating for myself as well to be a better person, a better mom. Mark is literally my motivation," Veronica. Teamwork, hard work, and dedication are all things most kids learn while playing team sports. The accomplishments during adaptive sports are on another playing field. "Mark loves it. Mark is one of many kids in my two years here with the Y, I've gotten to see him grow. And I just get to see them, kids that use walkers, I get to see them walk for the first time without it. I get to see them shoot their first goal the last week of the season, I get to all sorts of these barriers being broken down and these kids overcoming things and it's absolutely incredible to be part of it all," said Hannah. "Oh, baseball? Maybe that's next. It's coming up…we're very grateful. We're appreciative. And we hope it's going to continue, just because, you know, with Mark enjoying it, being like any other kid out there, he just gets that strength. And gets more motivated when he sees other kids walking, running, playing. He builds up that confidence, he builds up that social skills. And I just really appreciate the Y for doing this, and praying that it continues," said Veronica. You can learn more about the adaptive sports programs offered by the Y, click here. ...read more read less