WORCESTER—When the Worcester Red Sox take the field against the Syracuse Mets at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, the spotlight won’t just be on baseball. It will be on acceptance, inclusion, and the celebration of neurodiversity as the WooSox and Venture Community Services host Autism Acceptance Day at Polar Park.
The event will be marked by a special ceremonial first pitch thrown by Matthew Carey, a Millbury resident with autism who receives services through Venture’s Autism Advancement Center. For Matthew and his family, the moment is both deeply personal and powerfully public.
“I was proud that he was chosen,” said Tina Carey, Matthew’s mother, in an interview with the Worcester Guardian. “Happy, since Matthew loves baseball and the WooSox.”
Matthew’s journey with autism has had its challenges, Tina said, describing it as a “roller coaster ride” since his diagnosis at age 7. But she credits Venture with creating new possibilities for him. “Venture has been a positive experience, allowing him opportunities to participate in community and volunteer activities which he wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” she said.
Venture Community Services, based in Sturbridge, is also the presenting sponsor of Polar Park’s Sensory Friendly Room—a calming, accessible space located within the Country Bank Fan Services Center. Designed for individuals with autism and others with sensory sensitivities, the room includes flexible seating, sensory gadgets, dim lighting, and quiet activities.
Mike Hyland, Venture president and CEO, told the Worcester Guardian that the decision to partner with the Worcester Red Sox was an “easy one.”
“Venture is proud to collaborate with an organization that is truly dedicated to fostering an environment of inclusivity and accessibility,” said Hyland, “providing individuals with disabilities and other needs with the necessary resources to feel comfortable and enjoy outings in the community.
He called the sensory-friendly space a “difference maker” for many families, noting that for some, it’s the difference between being able to attend a game or not.
“The Sensory Friendly Room creates access to an activity for families and people that they may not have been able to enjoy otherwise,” Hyland said.
Beyond sponsoring the room, Venture has also helped several individuals gain employment at Polar Park through its Advancement Program, something Hyland said aligns with the organization’s core values.
“When I hear stories of individuals served by Venture that we have placed in jobs at Polar Park feeling safe and valued while succeeding, that is the holy grail for us,” he said. “Everyone wants to succeed and feel they’ve contributed to something.”
For Tina Carey, the public celebration of her son’s abilities is a reminder of how far he’s come—and how important visibility and understanding are. “It’s important for the community to understand autism and other disabilities,” she said. “Organizations like the WooSox help make that possible.”
Matthew, an avid sports fan and Special Olympics athlete, has earned multiple medals in bowling and track and field, and is currently working toward his Eagle Scout rank. He’s excited not only to take the mound on Friday but to show others what’s possible.
“What I hope people take away from seeing Matthew on the mound,” said Tina, “is that people with disabilities—including autism—deserve opportunities just like everyone else. And a better sense of how to approach people and accept their differences.”
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
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