When the idea of a pickleball outreach for the Deaf community surfaced, everyone around the table determined it needed to happen — and the Sept. 13 event exceeded expectations with more than 50 participants. The energy and excitement exhibited during the two hours on and around the courts also assured organizers they were on to something.
LaShawn Washington, case manager for the deaf at the Birmingham Regional Center with Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, and Liz Spiller, a passionate pickleballer who also works with the Deaf community and serves as an American Sign Language instructor, dreamed up the opportunity.
They then pitched the plan to their friends at Pickleball Kingdom Birmingham, central Alabama’s newest premier indoor pickleball facility (located on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood). TAB Media Group joined in as the official sponsor of the event, providing refreshments, dedicated court time, and professional instructors.
The event was everything that was hoped for, Washington said. Both Deaf and hearing not only learned how to play pickleball but also tried out their new skills in a stress-free environment. Those in attendance met new friends, and several area students training in ASL volunteered their time for this unique opportunity to practice.
Representatives from Meadow Brook Baptist Church’s Deaf ministry also were on hand to serve and connect with those in attendance.
Washington is thankful the event went well — for both those deaf and hearing.
National Deaf Awareness Month
“September is National Deaf Awareness Month, a time to celebrate Deaf culture, honor the contributions of the deaf community and promote inclusivity,” she said. “Seeing everyone come together to play pickleball without any barriers was a great way to honor Deaf Awareness Month.
“Any Deaf event is important in the Deaf community because it brings deaf individuals together,” Washington added. “A lot of us are in the hearing world all day, every day … work in the hearing world, family members are hearing and typically don’t communicate well. When an opportunity arises for us to get together, we tend to grab it, no matter how far (away) it is. It’s our way to connect with our culture; it’s our way to be ourselves and recharge until we are back in the hearing world again.”
Everyone can participate
“A hearing person can benefit from being part of a deaf pickleball team by learning about Deaf culture as they play, by picking up some sign language, and most importantly, by realizing deaf people are just like them. We can do anything except hear.
“An event like this, a sporting event, proves that you don’t need to hear to participate in sports, whether you’re a fan or a player. A deaf person feels equal and part of a team without having deafness stop them from participating,” Washington said. “Pickleball is a sport for all ranges of people: deaf, hearing, young, old. … We even had a deafblind (low vision) person participate.”
And the location — Pickleball Kingdom — worked out well because the corporate philosophy emphasizes community more than athleticism, according to Kyle Johnson, general manager of Pickleball Kingdom Birmingham.
“We love the game of pickleball, and we love people even more,” Johnson said. “People matter most, and the unique game of pickleball is a good doorway to bring people together to compete and grow relationships. People are what matters most in life. Relationships are the currency that matters most and lasts. All of us are going through things in this life and we believe we are better doing life and going through those things together.
“We have an inviting, inclusive atmosphere. Whether you’re young or old, big or small, experienced or new, Pickleball Kingdom welcomes you. We are thankful for any opportunity to host and love people through the game of pickleball,” he said.
‘Better together’
TAB Media Group president Jennifer Davis Rash said sponsoring the event was an easy yes.
“We were thrilled to help make this unique and creative opportunity possible for our friends in the Deaf community,” she said. “We’ve shared countless stories of the resilience of the hearing impaired, and we’ve made our content available in audio form for the sight impaired. We also work hard to connect people from all walks of life because we truly are better together, and we’ve watched God work in some incredible ways through His people.”
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