Inclusion Desk

For blind and visually impaired lovers of baseball – playing the game was an impossibility more than 50 years ago. But in 1964 that changed. A baseball was invented that made a beeping sound. And with it a new sport was eventually born. Beep Baseball is an adaptation of classic American baseball, played with a pitcher, catcher, batters, and fielders.

Is so-called “helicopter parenting” ruining youth sports? On this edition of Need to Know, we examine how some say the joy for the game is being impacted by parent outbursts and how this issue is resulting in some kids dropping out of sports altogether.

Also on the show, we get an inside look at a sport that makes it possible for blind and visually impaired fans of baseball to become players. It is unique and you have a chance to check out the world series of this sport right now in Rochester.

And the latest installment in our American Graduate Champions series. Meet the young founders of a summer academy for boys. The mission: to help students create their own economy through reading and writing.

The Arc of Monroe, in conjunction with several other partners, is providing new employment opportunities for those with developmental disabilities.

Through Project SEARCH, nine people are now unpaid interns at area hotels.

But Arc of Monroe CEO Barbara Wale says the goal of the program is to train and educate people with disabilities for competitive employment.

"We're really very excited to be able to work with our partners and excited for people with developmental disabilities to truly show the community they have skills, talent and abilities."

Special Olympics announced Saturday that it has received its largest single private gift in the organization's 47-year history from the Golisano Foundation.

The Golisano Foundation will be on hand for the start of the  Special Olympics 2015 World Summer Games on Saturday, with the focus on the health of those with intellectual disabilities.

Ann Costello is Director of the Foundation.

She says  they'll be focusing on delivering health care screenings for thousands of athletes, many of them from developing countries who are seeing a medical professional for the first time.

Costello says others who have conditions that need to be treated will receive the care that they need.

A new study suggests that the increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism is due, in least in part, to the way that diagnosis is defined. 

The number of U.S. children enrolled in special education programs due to an autism diagnosis more than tripled between 2000 and 2010. 

A new study from Penn State University says that may be because educators traded one diagnosis for another. 

Dr. Susan Hyman, an autism expert at UR Medicine, says this is not a matter of semantics. The right diagnosis means a child will get the best treatment and services. 

The Rochester Rotary is dedicating a special new facility at its Sunshine Campus in Rush tonight for children who have disabilities and autism.

The Gizzi Family Sensory Center will provide an escape for kids who may find the sights and sounds of camp over-stimulating.

Tracy Dreisbach, the Rotary's executive director, says the 2,700 square foot center has soothing music and lighting and various features and activities such as climbers and ball crawls that are calming to the senses.