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Sports

VIDEO: 'Basketball Buddies' Program Is A Slam Dunk

Parents of children with autism rave about the basketball clinics hosted at the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck

The Lady Knights of Queens College may not have the best record in the NCAA this season, but they definitely beat the competition when it comes to giving back to the Little Neck community.

Just ask the parents who were at the on Thursday night to watch their kids square off against the Lady Knights during a very special '' event held at the Little Neck community center.

"When you look at the smile on your child's face as he gets to play with these young women it's simply incredible," said Robert Burt, who proudly enjoyed watching sons Jaiden and Jarred play with the women of the Lady Knights Basketball team on Thursday. "These girls are super stars to them, and they're heroes to all of the parents here tonight." 

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Harry Weisman — father of Austin, another enrollee in the Basketball Buddies program — joined his friend, Burt, in singing praise of the Lady Knights.

"These girls really are amazing for doing this ... they have no idea just how big a difference these visits make in the lives of our children," Weisman said, reflecting on the vast impact being part of the Y's 'buddy' program has had on the development of his son Austin, who is autistic.

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Autism is a disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.

Despite these challenges, the staff at the Samuel Field Y say they've seen tremendous growth in many of the students enrolled in their special needs after-school programs, in part because of programs like 'Basketball Buddies.'

"For example, we have some children in 'Basketball Buddies' today who didn't like to be touched initially," said Meredith Zylberberg, program director of community based services for children with disabilities at the Y. "But now they run over to their buddy and give them a big hug before every clinic, which is remarkable really.

Also remarkable, according to Basketball Buddies parent Keith Kantrowitz, are the student volunteers who work with his daughter, Rebecca, every week.

"Rebecca just loves her buddy Molly," Kantrowitz said, referring to student helper, Molly Karow. "And that's what makes this program so worthwhile."

There was a lot of love going around the room on Thursday night, as the 'Basketball Buddies' program drew one day closer to the close of its season.

The Samuel Field Y is located at 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy. For more info about the Basketball Buddies program, visit http://www.sfy.org

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