Grace may communicate differently than many other kids, but when she met her teammate Gabby Monico on the UMass Dartmouth volleyball team, no words were needed to confirm their immediate bond.
“Since Grace has started with the team, Gabby has gone above and beyond to make her feel comfortable,” said Grace’s mom, Pattie. “She coordinates all the gatherings, begins the conversations in our group chats, and encourages her teammates. Even during summer vacations, Gabby calls Grace multiple times. She is nurturing, caring, and talks to Grace like she is a typical child, teammate, and friend!”
These characteristics made it clear: Gabby is Grace’s Teammate of the Year. “Grace’s face lights up when she sees Gabby!” Pattie said. “She gets very excited.”
With Gabby’s leadership, the team planned events that embedded Grace into the culture of UMass Dartmouth volleyball. “From the get-go, Gabby called, arranged team videos, encouraged Grace to participate,” Pattie said. “She was very active with Grace, embraced her fully, and encouraged the team to do so also.”
In February of this year, Grace and her team hosted a Valentine’s Day craft day, which quickly became one of Grace’s favorite days with her team. “They made hearts, drew, and just had fun for a couple of hours,” Pattie said. “Gabby came in with a bouquet of pipe cleaner flowers wrapped it paper. Beautiful!”
Even though Grace communicates differently than her teammates, they know exactly what she means to them—and what they mean to her. She loves going to campus, socializing with her team, helping at matches and practices, and giving out fist bumps. “Grace is non-verbal, so every time someone mentions ‘school’ or ‘ball,’ she immediately signs her sign for UMass volleyball,” Pattie said. “She knows immediately when we arrive on campus and why.”
