Madison Township Pixies create inclusive cheer team for athletes of all abilities

MADISON TOWNSHIP — The Madison Township Pixies faced an unexpected challenge just three days before taking the mat at a national competition in Indiana.

One athlete experienced a change in ability, prompting coach Stevanie Brown to adjust the routine with the safety of the athlete and team in mind.

Brown said the performance showed the teamwork, resilience and spirit behind their subteam name, Pixies-Pulse.

“The heartbeat of our Pixies culture is inclusion on all teams,” Brown said.

The Pixies tied for first, earning their best placement at nationals on July 12.

The Madison Township Pixies compete through Champion Force Athletics (CFA) and include eight Exceptional Athletes (EA) and seven peer buddies.

The Exceptional Athlete program gives children with disabilities an opportunity to compete alongside their peers while building friendships, confidence and teamwork.

Building a team for every child

Brown started Ohio’s first EA team after drawing inspiration from her son, who has autism.

“I wanted him to have a chance to experience a team, be included, get movement and have fun,” Brown said. “I wanted to be able to showcase that a disability doesn’t mean a child has no ability.”

Brown has coached with CFA for nearly seven years. She discovered the organization while looking for a different experience for her daughter after a difficult time with dance.

Brown asked about another CFA team before signing her daughter up for cheer. She eventually learned she had been talking with the director, who asked if she wanted to coach.

“That’s how Madison Township Pixies came to be,” Brown said.

The Pixies accept athletes from age 3½ years old through their senior year. The program offers age-based teams for children without disabilities along with the EA team, giving families an opportunity for each child.

Families can enroll children without disabilities in the Pixies’ other four divisions, which cost between $10 and $12 per week, according to Brown.

The EA program is free for athletes with a diagnosed disability. Brown said they also offer sweepstakes to help with costs and can aid families in navigating questions about expenses and other support queries.

(Story continues below. Images show information for the age-based teams and the Exceptional Athletes team. Provided by Stevanie Brown)

Only two CFA teams in Ohio have EA teams, Brown said. The other team operates in Montgomery County.

Brown said the squad can accommodate up to 30 athletes, but she tries to balance enrollment with the number of peer buddies available.

Diana Myer, whose 9-year-old daughter Kiana competes with the Pixies, learned about the team through another mother at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

Myer, who lives in Ashland, wanted her daughter to have more opportunities to get involved with activities and connect with other children.

“I want my daughter to get out and do more stuff,” Myer said. “She’s an only child.”

Kiana has hearing loss and attends speech therapy. For Myer, watching her daughter participate in cheer has given her another way to see what Kiana can do.

“It’s great to see,” Myer said. “Just to watch her, what she can do in life and how she enjoys it.”

Mansfield resident Jinnifer Fisher said the EA team has helped her 10-year-old daughter, Kyia, who is autistic and dyslexic, grow in confidence.

“The first couple years we were not in an EA group, and it was very difficult for Kyia,” Fisher said. “We had to leave in the middle of class on a few occasions.”

She learned about the EA team after meeting Brown at a sensory-friendly event.

The friends Kyia has made through the EA team she considers family, Fisher said. Her favorite part is watching how proud Kyia feels after competing.

There are misconceptions about children with disabilities participating in sports, she added.

“People need to understand if your child has a mental or physical disability, it doesn’t have to stop them from being a part of something great,” Fisher said.

A team built around inclusion

The peer buddies also played a major role in the Pixies’ nationals performance.

The buddies, who compete on an older division team, traveled to Indiana, attended an extra weekly practice and learned another routine. Brown said they committed to the additional work while showing flexibility and empathy toward the Exceptional Athletes.

(Story continues below. Images show the Madison Township Pixies team at nationals. Provided by Stevanie Brown)

“They knew the medal and placement wasn’t for them,” Brown said. “It was for the EA team to have that chance. That shows hope and great character for those athletes.”

Brown said the team started talking about next season almost immediately after celebrating their placement.

“The growth shows so much more than a placement number,” she said. “It shows love and dedication to the sport, team and themselves.”

The EA division differs from the other teams because it uses a range of skill levels for competition judging. Brown said that structure allows athletes of different abilities to participate while reducing the pressure surrounding specific skill requirements.

Peer buddies can also provide hands-on assistance to Exceptional Athletes when they need it.

I wish people understood that autism, assistive equipment, deafness, hard of hearing or any other diagnosis does not completely define the child.

stevanie brown, madison township pixies coach

“I want them to know our program is a safe space to be themselves, have support, get hugs and high fives whenever they need,” she said.

A typical season lasts about four months and includes a state competition. The Pixies offer fall and spring seasons. Brown said athletes must compete during the spring season to qualify for nationals if the team receives a bid.

The new season begins in September.

“If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself that you may think this is a fun small town team thing, but the impact is much greater than you can imagine,” Brown said.

She has watched athletes grow, make friends and find new opportunities through the program. She has also seen families connect through their shared experiences.

“It’s important to have one place that siblings of all abilities can share an experience together with their family,” Brown said. “We want the whole family to feel welcomed and supported with our programming.”

For families considering the program, Brown encourages parents to reach out with questions and concerns. She said she will be honest about whether the program fits a child’s abilities while also looking for ways to include each athlete.

“I wish people understood that autism, assistive equipment, deafness, hard of hearing or any other diagnosis does not completely define the child,” she added. “It does not prevent the child from still wanting to be a kid and have fun.

“These kids deserve the same opportunities and support any other child gets.”