When Josh Chudnow walks up to the plate, something remarkable happens.
For those hours he is playing baseball, he is not a kid who stands out. He is not a young man who deals with the challenges associated with autism. He is like every other player on the field, just another player.
And for his father, Evan Chudnow, that is the best part of Easterseals MORC Miracle League.
"The best part of Miracle League is that you're with other people who have a shared experience," Evan says. "It's the one place where you do not feel different. Everyone understands what you are going through, because they are going through it too."
That sense of belonging has kept Josh and his family connected to Miracle League baseball for more than two decades.
Everyone Fits
Like many parents, Evan remembers the uncertainty that came with Josh's early years.
As a baby, Josh began experiencing absence seizures. Later, he was diagnosed with autism and faced challenges with communication. For a long time, he was minimally verbal. Everyday outings could be unpredictable.
"You take him to a restaurant and he starts to scream," Evan recalls. "It can be caused by just about anything."
For families navigating these situations, those moments can create a constant feeling of being in the spotlight, adding even more pressure to a challenging situation.
Then a friend invited Evan and Josh to try Easterseals MORC Miracle League baseball.
At first, Evan wasn't sure what to expect.
Then, he found a new normal. "I got there and everybody is screaming," he says with a laugh. "The outbursts aren't unexpected. They're expected."
In most settings, behaviors associated with autism can make families feel isolated. On the Miracle League field, there is no spotlight on those behaviors because they are normal. They are behaviors every player, coach, parent and guardian experience daily.
"It normalizes everything," Evan says. "Suddenly if your kid is yelling, you don't care. So what? Everyone there has dealt with that. Eventually the yelling stops and everything's okay."
For Josh, it meant playing baseball alongside other athletes with disabilities. For Evan, it meant something just as important.
"It was the first place I felt safe."
Growing as a Team
Over the years, Josh has acquired countless team hats and jerseys. The Brewers. The Yankees. The Red Sox. The Orioles. The Marlins.
Evan jokes that after two decades, he has enough Easterseals MORC Miracle League hats in his closet to outfit several teams. Each of these hats represents another step for Josh, another season of growth.
In many environments, disability can make a person feel like the exception. At Easterseals MORC Miracle League, Josh is surrounded by people who understand, who do not need an explanation.
When Josh first started playing, he was far less verbal than he is today. Now, according to Evan, he'll happily strike up conversations with anyone his favorite topics. These typically include trains, transformers, and lighthouses.
Hitting and fielding may not have taught those skills directly, the consistent interaction with a team, where Josh fits in, probably does. Or, as Evan says with a laugh, “It certainly hasn’t hurt!”
For a few hours every week, the things that make Josh different no longer exist. He's just another player waiting for his turn at bat. He's talking with teammates and volunteers.
He's having fun. And that has created growth far beyond the baseball diamond.
More Than Baseball
For Evan, one of the most powerful parts of coaching is seeing players gain confidence.
He remembers a player named Travis who initially refused to go onto the field. At first, even with support, Travis would not step up to bat. Over time, that changed.
Eventually, Travis batted independently. He took the field. He even played catcher.
"Taking a kid who's trying, but can't really do it, and making him better is cool," Evan says. "Taking one who won't get on the field and getting him to a level where he actually participates, and has fun, is beyond fantastic!"
He remembers another player, Eddie, who was afraid of the ball and hesitant to participate. Now, Eddie shows up eager to get on the field and play ball. These stories of growth, both on and off the field, are what keep Evan coming back.
In Miracle League, success is measured differently. The focus isn't on championships. It’s about finding a place people can belong and grow. "We never talked about wins and losses," Evan says. "All that really matters is, are they on the field? Are they running around? Are they having fun?"
The Easterseals MORC Difference
In 2012 when Easterseals MORC got involved, Evan noticed something important. More volunteers started showing up.
That may sound simple, but on the field, it changes everything.
Players gain buddies, mentors, and friends who help them stay engaged throughout the game. Volunteers form genuine relationships with players and families. Many return year after year.
Most importantly, "The players love to have another person with them," Evan says.
It often becomes something much deeper. "I think sometimes people come in thinking they're going to do this volunteer thing one time, for a few hours," Evan says. "When the time is up and the game done, the last thing they're thinking about is getting credit for volunteering, or the service. They're thinking about how much fun they had!"
Evan has witnessed it countless times.
Volunteers leave with smiles on their faces. The players leave feeling supported. Families leave feeling understood.
And the league continues to grow stronger because of it.
He also credits Easterseals MORC and its leadership for creating consistency and stability that allows families to focus on what matters most.
"They take care of everything. I can walk in there and just coach the team," Evan says. "I don't have to worry about anything."
That reliability means families can spend their time cheering, connecting, and enjoying the game instead of worrying about logistics.
This Ability
Josh is 32 years old now. He works in the community, stays active, and loves sports. And every baseball season, he returns to the Miracle League field.
For Evan, that field remains much more than a place to play ball. It's a place where shared experiences replace isolation and families feel understood. In a world where many people strive to be seen, Miracle League offers a respite for those used to the constant spotlight of being different.
Miracle League is where differences become common ground, and people like Josh can simply be themselves.
Because of support from programs like Easterseals MORC Miracle League, athletes like Josh have opportunities to build confidence, form friendships, stay active, and experience the joy of belonging.
For a few hours each week, Josh doesn't stand out. There is no spotlight on his autism diagnosis. The spotlight is where it belongs, on the game, on people having fun and growing. And that's what makes this league a miracle.
