In an extraordinary display of leadership, resilience, and community education, eighth-grade student Austin Bird organized and led a two-day lesson on adaptive sports - specifically wheelchair basketball - on Nov. 24–25 at Merrick Avenue Middle School. 

With support from Dennis Ringel, a physical education teacher, and Nathalie Job, an assistant principal, Bird taught nearly every physical education class across both days, helping his peers gain a deeper understanding of adaptive athletics and the importance of inclusion. On the administrative side, Mikaela Coni, the assistant superintendent for business and Eric Gomez, the assistant superintendent for personnel, were instrumental in coordinating the logistics required to make this schoolwide adaptive sports experience possible. 

To begin each class, he shared a video he created about his journey and his outside-of-school wheelchair basketball team, the New York Rolling Fury. He then led wheelchair relay races and partner pulling, and students got to try shooting and dribbling. 

“Students saw firsthand how much strength and power is needed to participate in adaptive sports and how highly skilled those athletes really are,” said Principal Katelyn Dunn. 

Several years ago, Bird became wheelchair-bound after a virus attacked his spinal cord following a bout of strep throat - an event that occurred just months after the passing of his father.  

Job reflected on the impact of the experience, sharing that “students learned that real strength isn’t just physical, it’s the courage to share your story and the willingness to understand someone else’s. Watching the students at MAMS experience wheelchair basketball reminded us all that inclusion isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we practice by seeing the world through someone else’s perspective. It was inspiring for many to watch Austin teach both seventh and eighth-grade students that differences don’t limit us; they help to grow and support one another.” 

In addition to two other wheelchair-bound individuals from Bird’s life, his older sister, Shannon, a Merrick Avenue Middle School and Calhoun High School graduate and current sophomore at Adelphi University, joined the demonstrations as well. She also volunteers as a prep coach for her brother’s team.  

“My brother is a warrior,” she said proudly. Shannon lives in Merrick with Austin, their mother, Jamie, and older brother, Tyler. 

When asked what he hoped his peers would take away from the lesson, AB offered a message of positivity and perspective.
 

“I hope you guys get out of this that anything can happen at any moment. Life is about being positive and if you're negative, nothing is going to go right, and everyone can be treated like a regular person in the world.” 

On the administrative side, Mikaela Coni, the assistant superintendent for business and Eric Gomez, the assistant superintendent for personnel, were instrumental in coordinating the logistics required to make this schoolwide adaptive sports experience possible. 

This unforgettable learning opportunity taught students not only about adaptive sports, but also encouraged empathy, inclusivity, and the power of personal story. 

“Austin spoke to 19 classes and over 900 students,” explained Dunn. “Somehow, he still had the energy to race multiple times in every single class. We thank him for his lessons and inspiration.”