Audio-Reader Giveback Night provides Listeners with Adaptive Pickleball

On Tuesday, October 28, Audio-Reader partnered with the local Overland Park Chicken N Pickle to host a Giveback Night. 10% of all food and drinks bought were donated back to the Audio-Reader Network. 

In addition to delicious food, Chicken N Pickle offers multiple pickleball courts and a variety of games to keep patrons entertained and fed. Despite the chilly weather that evening, Audio-Reader staff joined listener, Tina, on the court for some adaptive pickleball gameplay. 

The adaptive pickleballs have a bell inside which helps blind/low vision players to look for the ball with their ears instead of their eyes. Beth McKenzie, Feloniz Lovato-Winston, and Martha Kehr of Audio-Reader were able to provide a description of the court and how to move as well. Director Lovato-Winston even donned a blindfold to experience the game from Tina's perspective. 

While enjoying dinner to warm up after the game, long-time listener, Tina, mentioned that she has been wanting to be able to try out pickleball with her friends in the past and was thrilled to have the opportunity. She offered excellent thoughts on how to make the sport more adaptive and easier for blind players. Audio-Reader staff are excited to learn more and work toward having a listener pickleball event again in Spring of 2026. 

Our thanks go out again to the Overland Park Chicken N Pickle location for hosting our Give Back Night and donating 10% of food and drink sales to support Audio-Reader's mission of fostering independence and supporting access to cultural events like pickleball for our listeners, donors, and volunteers. It was a fun night for all who attended.