badminton for differing abilities
a badminton event for mixed abilities,
including yours.
other details
Equipment
Rackets, nets, and birdies are provided, but equipment is limited, so if you have badminton rackets at home please bring them! We plan to host these events monthly, so you may want to consider investing in a racket that you can bring every month.
Donations
We’ve received requests to make this event a recurring social activity. To help sustain it, we kindly ask for a $10 participation donation from players to cover custodial fees. Donations can be made at the venue via cash, check, or Venmo. This is not a requirement to participate in the event.
Future events
We’re currently waiting to finalize details for future events, but our goal is to make this a monthly gathering. Stay tuned! We’ll be sure to email you with updates and future dates as soon as everything is confirmed.
what to expect at the event
players/participants
At the birdies & buddies badminton event, you’ll be paired with one or more buddies who will support and play alongside you in a welcoming and fun environment! Whether you want to play a full game on the standard badminton courts or try out skill-building activities, there’s something for everyone. You and your buddy (or buddies) can adjust the rules to fit your comfort level, ensuring that every game is enjoyable and accessible. If you’d rather not play a full match, there will be fun badminton-related games to help you practice different skills or just enjoy the sport in a relaxed way. No matter how you choose to participate, the goal is to have a great time together!
buddies/volunteers
When you arrive, you’ll receive a name tag and wait to be paired with one or more players. Your role is to ensure they feel comfortable, supported, and most importantly—have fun! The event is casual and unstructured, meaning you and your player(s) can choose what to do and in what order. Whether you’re playing a standard badminton game, trying out skill-building activities, or just hanging out and chatting, the priority is making sure your player is enjoying themselves. Since pairings may vary, you might be working with one or more players at a time, adapting to their needs and ensuring everyone has a great experience. The most important thing is to create a positive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued. Key reminders for buddies: Your player’s enjoyment comes first! Interact with them the most and follow their lead. Focus on abilities. Each player has unique strengths—encourage and support them in ways that work for them. Treat players with kindness and respect. Follow the Golden Rule and treat others the way you’d want to be treated. Avoid being patronizing. Most of our players are adults, so speak to them as you would any other adult. Encourage and support them without talking down to them. Be flexible. Some players may need extra time serving, more prompting, or frequent breaks. Others may prefer skill games or simply hanging out— and that’s okay! Respect different approaches. If a player does something differently, adapt and find what works best for them. Make sure players feel heard and included. The goal is connection, not competition. If your player seems overwhelmed, suggest a short walk or a water break. Let them take all the time they need.
about us
creating a safe & welcoming environment for everyone.
who we are
birdies & buddies is a social group dedicated to providing a fun and inclusive environment where individuals of mixed abilities can make meaningful friendships through playing badminton, an easily adaptable and innately social sport. We prioritize the feelings of fulfillment associated with playing and excelling in a sport and the formation of meaningful friendships over competition.
prioritizing friendship over competition.
what we do
Every month, we assemble our players and buddies for an afternoon filled with badminton and an opportunity to get some exercise with friends. Players are paired together and are welcome to play standard games of badminton with others, or they can try out badminton-related games to work on their skills and partake in some fun competition with friends. We strive to create new bonds between our players and buddies, and we pride ourselves on bringing together people who otherwise might not get the chance for meaningful interaction.
playing a sport that is accessible, social, and fun.
why badminton
Badminton is an easy sport for anyone to pick up. The shuttlecock moves at a slow pace, the risk of injury is very low, and even those who do not have the best motor skills can have a great time. The game rules are also easily adjustable to cater to all abilities! It is very possible to adjust the size of the court, the pace of play, the number of points, and other general rules. Badminton also allows for a lot of socialization as well. This makes it a perfect sport for an event that strives to be as inclusive as possible while also promoting genuine friendships.
about the founders
our story
The creation of these badminton events were inspired by our eldest brother, Julian. Growing up, we noticed there were only a handful of activities that Julian was really interested in, and he was especially uninterested in sports in general. One summer, about a ten years ago now, our family was visiting a friend's house who had a badminton net set up in their backyard. To our surprise, Julian picked up a racquet and was a complete natural at it. This was the first time he had never really shown any interest in a sport, and we were so happy that he found a new activity that he loved.
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Julian participated in every activity that was offered at his school, but badminton was never an activity that our public schools offered to students with disabilities. We realized that badminton was a sport that many other people would probably also thrive in. Through witnessing Julian's experiences with the programs at school, we thought that there should be more casual environments in which kids and adults with differing abilities could socialize with each other while also potentially discovering a new hobby that they can succeed in.
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- Elaina & Carlo Comia
carlo comia
Co-founder of birdies & buddies
Welcome to our website! I am a recent graduate from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), and am currently in residency on track to becoming a Family and Sports Medicine physician. When we started this organization in 2012, Elaina and I had no idea that we would still be hosting badminton events over 10 years after its inception. Having the opportunity to host these clinics and connect with so many members of the disabled community and their families has truly been a fulfilling and humbling experience. It has been a great joy to share our brother Julian’s love for badminton with others, and we hope to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Looking forward to seeing you on the badminton court!
- Carlo
elaina comia
Co-founder of birdies & buddies
Hello! I'm Elaina, and I'm a graphic designer currently living in CT. I was about 12 years old when birdies & buddies (formerly known as Sports4SpecialNeeds) was established, and the badminton clinics were actually the very first time I had ever created any sort of graphic design. The logo, flyer, and t-shirt designs have come along way since the first event and I've thoroughly enjoyed continuing to improve our events through design to best represent our mission and goals as an organization.
My favorite part of these events is seeing how people's mood can change entirely from when they walk into the gym to when we are saying our goodbyes. We always have a few individuals who are relatively shy when they first arrive, and by the end of the event, they can't seem to part ways with all of the new friends that they've made.
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- Elaina
julian comia
Co-founder of birdies & buddies
Hi! My name is Julian. I am 30 years old, and badminton is my favorite sport! I also love Disney, music, and baking. I love playing badminton with my family and friends, and I hope to see you at one of our events some day.
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- Julian
thank you
We have been supported by Advance Biomedical Treatment Center, Stop & Shop, Flatbread Company, Little City Pizza, FroyoWorld, B.good, and Dish n Dat. Through their donations and willingness to host fundraisers, they have been instrumental in helping us in our mission. We are very grateful for their contributions to our programs!
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These events would not have been possible without the Simsbury Public Schools and their support over the years. We want to extend a huge thank you to Henry James and Simsbury High School for allowing us to use their facilities and equipment over the last ten years!
contact birdies & buddies
We are always looking for new volunteers/buddies as well as players to get involved! Don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested in joining or have any questions, comments, or concerns.
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