They swing the bat and they laugh, and they also receive encouragement, just like any other kid their age.

But for children with special needs, this team is their own.

A group of Effingham County parents have formed the Effingham Navigators, a team that is an outlet for their children and children with special needs who otherwise couldn’t or wouldn’t take part in sports and recreation programs.

"For a year, I had been wanting to start a support group and recreation programs for special needs children," said Pauline Shaw, who has spearheaded the Navigators. "I had met so many parents who didn’t have answers to their questions but they held pieces of the puzzle."

Shaw got connected with Parent to Parent of Georgia, a support group for parents of children with disabilities. They have what are called Navigator teams, which are collaborations between parents, medical professionals, volunteers and educators to help parents and families find the resources they need.

Hence, the name Navigators for the team Shaw is helping to form.

Shaw had been a coach and active in sports. So had her former husband. So when Shaw was pregnant, they thought her daughter "was going to be the first female football coach," she said.

But after her daughter Dakota Roundtree, now 8 years old, was born, doctors told her "she would never walk, she would never talk and she would have seizures," Shaw said. "My daughter has had two brain surgeries, and she walks and she talks and she’s playing ball.

"I was determined she wasn’t going to miss out," Shaw added.

ey swing the bat and they laugh, and they also receive encouragement, just like any other kid their age.

But for children with special needs, this team is their own.

A group of Effingham County parents have formed the Effingham Navigators, a team that is an outlet for their children and children with special needs who otherwise couldn’t or wouldn’t take part in sports and recreation programs.

"For a year, I had been wanting to start a support group and recreation programs for special needs children," said Pauline Shaw, who has spearheaded the Navigators. "I had met so many parents who didn’t have answers to their questions but they held pieces of the puzzle."

Shaw got connected with Parent to Parent of Georgia, a support group for parents of children with disabilities. They have what are called Navigator teams, which are collaborations between parents, medical professionals, volunteers and educators to help parents and families find the resources they need.

Hence, the name Navigators for the team Shaw is helping to form.

Shaw had been a coach and active in sports. So had her former husband. So when Shaw was pregnant, they thought her daughter "was going to be the first female football coach," she said.

But after her daughter Dakota Roundtree, now 8 years old, was born, doctors told her "she would never walk, she would never talk and she would have seizures," Shaw said. "My daughter has had two brain surgeries, and she walks and she talks and she’s playing ball.

"I was determined she wasn’t going to miss out," Shaw added.