Kinesiology Students Go to the Mat for Kids With Disabilities

Some children sprinted into the gym. A few stood haltingly before volunteers guided them inside hand in hand. Still others pushed themselves forward in their wheelchairs. 

In just seconds, the gym at the University of Maryland erupted with giggles and dribbles. Kids with differing physical and developmental abilities kicked soccer balls, wiggled around in mesh tubes, or quietly arranged foam alphabet letters. They’re as excited about sports and having fun as anyone their age, but their disabilities make it nearly impossible for them to participate in activities that cater to children who are not disabled. 

Thanks to the nonprofit KEEN Greater DC (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) plus a steady stream of UMD volunteers, athletes have found a space made especially for them.  

KEEN helps empower children and youth with developmental or physical disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy by offering free and non-competitive physical activity with individual support and attention.  

“I love that we accept everybody, no matter what. Everyone will always have a place, whether that's a volunteer or an athlete,” said Dakota Goldfarb ’21, a kinesiology major who is now the grants and communications manager and site coordinator for KEEN Greater DC. 

Since January 2024, KEEN Greater DC has worked with students in the School of Public Health course “Service Learning in Kinesiology.” They volunteer each Sunday, setting up the gym for KEEN athletes, welcoming families and supporting kids in quality physical activity time.  

“Students gain invaluable experience applying classroom concepts and skills to real-world situations in Maryland communities,” said Emma Powell, graduate studies coordinator for UMD’s Department of Kinesiology, who teaches the class. “They learn about what goes into quality service-learning, program implementation and evaluation, and also the challenges of university-community partnerships.” 

Kinesiology major Maggie Chen ’27, who is taking the class this fall, decided to volunteer after attending a session last year. 

“It makes me really happy,” she said. “Since I get to work with the same child each weekend, I really get to see him come out of his shell. That feels so rewarding.” 

Because athletes are paired one-to-one with volunteers, KEEN needs a regular number of volunteers from around campus and beyond to meet the need from families—although the program also gets many repeat volunteers who enjoyed their previous experience.

“What I think we don't talk about enough is what KEEN does for the volunteers. They have the opportunity to be exposed to something that maybe they haven't been exposed to before,” Goldfarb said. “It impacts the rest of their life. It helps them develop a better sense of understanding and compassion.” 

Parents of participating athletes also applaud KEEN for its inclusivity. Kidan Abebe said the commitment and professionalism he saw from student volunteers made him feel at ease signing his child up for the program. It’s also a great way to have a break as a parent, he said. 

Like Abebe, Danny Schaible attends each Sunday with his 14-year-old son. He said that KEEN helps provide positive structure to their weekend. 

“Most of the world isn’t friendly to him,” Schaible said, speaking about his son. “There’s a lot of places that are restrictive. [KEEN] has his needs in heart, and there aren't many places like that.” 

After an active 50 minutes, the session concluded with athletes sharing their proudest moments and dancing to the Hokey Pokey. The children left with their parents, while volunteers recharged. A few minutes later, another set of smiling faces appeared at the gym doors and the fun began again.