ORLANDO – After its successful debut at the UCF Softball Complex April 11, 2023, the UCF softball team is bringing back its Autism Awareness and Acceptance game once again this spring, scheduled for Wednesday, April 10 against the visiting Jacksonville Dolphins.
Returning this year from last year’s event is the pregame United in Autism Awareness and Acceptance activity, where fans can follow Knights players’ lead in signing their names and tracing their hands on a large banner set up on the concourse.
Fans may also fill in and color puzzle pieces to their liking and representation, and the program will hold an in-game moment of awareness and acceptance in the top of the third inning, for those in attendance to stand in unison and hold up and display their puzzle pieces together.
Facts and statistics about autism will be read by the stadium public address announcer throughout evening, and the team will also host a fidget cube giveaway for the first 100 kids 12 and under through the gates.
In a special effort to be inclusive and mindful to those in attendance with high sensory sensitivity, the UCF softball program will also hold a silent first inning with no music played or public address announcements, with sound slowly and progressively getting louder throughout the contest.
The game’s theme will be represented by the players themselves on the field as well, as the team will don specially made pregame warm-up shirts, socks and helmet decals.
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