Huston Fireballs Power Soccer
The Houston Power Soccer Program is managed by Diane Murrell, LCSW, a clinical social worker in the Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital. Diane founded the organization in 2010 in response to the social isolation and loneliness that was observed in several of the pediatric patients who are power wheelchair users. Power soccer is the only sport that many power wheel chair users with diseases and disabilities such as, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and some types of spinal cord injury, can participate in without any assistance. Chuck French, Administration Manager of the Adaptive Recreation program for the Houston Parks & Recreation Department, collaborated on the shared goal of starting power soccer and donated the city's gym space and the team's initial equipment. Chuck continues to provide support from his role and experience as manager of adaptive recreation for the city.