“Everybody Plays” Brings IU Athletics, Bloomington Special Needs Communities Together
4/23/2018 10:37:00 AM | General, Women's Soccer
Bloomington, Ind. – Something was missing from IU Women's Soccer player Allison Jorden's life a year ago.
An advocate for people with disabilities dating back to her time at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral High School, Jorden no longer had that regular interaction with the marginalized population as a freshman in Bloomington. Jorden set out to address that this year, and with the support from the IU Excellence Academy staff, she has managed to do just that.
"Everybody Plays" is a sports program created by Jorden and supported by the IU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the IU Excellence Academy. The new program offers sports-themed events for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities, creating a chance for them to interact and learn from current IU student-athletes.
"The focus of our events isn't really about getting better at whatever sport we're playing, but it's instead about having fun, enjoying competition, developing relationships and encouraging a healthy lifestyle," Jorden said. "Even if we don't improve at all in the sport, if we become better as people, better as athletes, better as friends, then we've achieved our goal."
While Everybody Plays is still in the infancy stages, it is off to a successful start. The inaugural event was April 5 and approximately 25 individuals participated in a soccer-themed event at the Mellencamp Pavilion. Next came a track-focused event last week, and more than 30 were on hand.
Jorden doesn't know what sport is next or how big Everybody Plays will become, but she's excited about the early response and results.
"It's fun to see a lot of hard work from a lot of people culminate into something that I know will last for a long time, longer than I'm here," Jorden said. "That's rewarding knowing I started something that other people can continue and enjoy and learn from."
After being heavily involved in a similar program, "Best Buddies," in high school, Jorden knew about the positive impact that this program can have on individuals with disabilities. But she is quick to point out that the benefits are reciprocal. Many of the participants face the type of daily struggles that most others do not ever encounter, and that can be an eye-opening experience for IU's student-athletes.
"There are a million things I could say about the lifestyle of people with disabilities that I try to emulate and learn from," Jorden said. "Specifically, I think many of them live a sort of black and white life, where if someone is nice to you, you like them. If they aren't, you don't. It's not about furthering an ulterior motive. It's about enjoying the moment, doing what makes you happy. It's knowing what should be a priority.
"There are a lot of things we take for granted from a world that favors people without disabilities. Seeing their response to adversity, how they push through and still live fulfilled lives and are good people – that's something student-athletes can learn from."
When Jorden began planning the first event, she said she had a wonderful response from Bloomington organizations for people with disabilities. Her list of contacts quickly grew, and she now has a large network to work and communicate with as subsequent events are scheduled.
That enthusiasm for Everybody Plays was shared by IU student-athletes when she first presented the idea at a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting. When she passed around a sign-up sheet, she said she expected to have five or six who were interested in being involved. Instead, approximately 40 student-athletes signed on to participate.
"When I got the list back, my eyes started watering," Jorden said. "The cause is so close to my heart, and I love that other people are willing to jump on board."
She was also appreciative of the IU Excellence Academy staff's support, most notably Director for Leadership and Life Skills Lisa Winters. Their efforts and encouragement, according to Jorden, is one of the things that separates IU Athletics from other athletic departments around the country.
"IU's leadership is dedicated to developing the holistic student-athlete, and our Excellence Academy is unmatched by any other as far as its development of leadership and life skills," Jorden said. "While we're elite athletes, most of us won't be going pro and pursuing a career in athletics. IU recognizes this, and is dedicated to giving students opportunities like this, to find an interest, to find a passion."
Jorden has found her passion, and is excited about the future of "Everybody Plays." She has had discussions with members of the IU Volleyball team about planning a volleyball-themed event in the not-too-distant future, and hopes to do the same with many any Hoosier sports teams.
Eventually, Jorden would love to see the program develop to the point that one-on-one relationships and friendships develop between IU student-athletes and the event participants.
From personal experience, she knows that each would benefit greatly from what they can learn from the other.
"Working with people with disabilities, when you walk away afterwards there's a feeling of euphoria," Jorden said. "Society is missing out on a lot by overlooking these individuals."
An advocate for people with disabilities dating back to her time at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral High School, Jorden no longer had that regular interaction with the marginalized population as a freshman in Bloomington. Jorden set out to address that this year, and with the support from the IU Excellence Academy staff, she has managed to do just that.
"Everybody Plays" is a sports program created by Jorden and supported by the IU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the IU Excellence Academy. The new program offers sports-themed events for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities, creating a chance for them to interact and learn from current IU student-athletes.
"The focus of our events isn't really about getting better at whatever sport we're playing, but it's instead about having fun, enjoying competition, developing relationships and encouraging a healthy lifestyle," Jorden said. "Even if we don't improve at all in the sport, if we become better as people, better as athletes, better as friends, then we've achieved our goal."
While Everybody Plays is still in the infancy stages, it is off to a successful start. The inaugural event was April 5 and approximately 25 individuals participated in a soccer-themed event at the Mellencamp Pavilion. Next came a track-focused event last week, and more than 30 were on hand.
Jorden doesn't know what sport is next or how big Everybody Plays will become, but she's excited about the early response and results.
"It's fun to see a lot of hard work from a lot of people culminate into something that I know will last for a long time, longer than I'm here," Jorden said. "That's rewarding knowing I started something that other people can continue and enjoy and learn from."
After being heavily involved in a similar program, "Best Buddies," in high school, Jorden knew about the positive impact that this program can have on individuals with disabilities. But she is quick to point out that the benefits are reciprocal. Many of the participants face the type of daily struggles that most others do not ever encounter, and that can be an eye-opening experience for IU's student-athletes.
"There are a million things I could say about the lifestyle of people with disabilities that I try to emulate and learn from," Jorden said. "Specifically, I think many of them live a sort of black and white life, where if someone is nice to you, you like them. If they aren't, you don't. It's not about furthering an ulterior motive. It's about enjoying the moment, doing what makes you happy. It's knowing what should be a priority.
"There are a lot of things we take for granted from a world that favors people without disabilities. Seeing their response to adversity, how they push through and still live fulfilled lives and are good people – that's something student-athletes can learn from."
When Jorden began planning the first event, she said she had a wonderful response from Bloomington organizations for people with disabilities. Her list of contacts quickly grew, and she now has a large network to work and communicate with as subsequent events are scheduled.
That enthusiasm for Everybody Plays was shared by IU student-athletes when she first presented the idea at a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting. When she passed around a sign-up sheet, she said she expected to have five or six who were interested in being involved. Instead, approximately 40 student-athletes signed on to participate.
"When I got the list back, my eyes started watering," Jorden said. "The cause is so close to my heart, and I love that other people are willing to jump on board."
She was also appreciative of the IU Excellence Academy staff's support, most notably Director for Leadership and Life Skills Lisa Winters. Their efforts and encouragement, according to Jorden, is one of the things that separates IU Athletics from other athletic departments around the country.
"IU's leadership is dedicated to developing the holistic student-athlete, and our Excellence Academy is unmatched by any other as far as its development of leadership and life skills," Jorden said. "While we're elite athletes, most of us won't be going pro and pursuing a career in athletics. IU recognizes this, and is dedicated to giving students opportunities like this, to find an interest, to find a passion."
Jorden has found her passion, and is excited about the future of "Everybody Plays." She has had discussions with members of the IU Volleyball team about planning a volleyball-themed event in the not-too-distant future, and hopes to do the same with many any Hoosier sports teams.
Eventually, Jorden would love to see the program develop to the point that one-on-one relationships and friendships develop between IU student-athletes and the event participants.
From personal experience, she knows that each would benefit greatly from what they can learn from the other.
"Working with people with disabilities, when you walk away afterwards there's a feeling of euphoria," Jorden said. "Society is missing out on a lot by overlooking these individuals."
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerFB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Kellan Wyatt Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16