Open Door Sports Featured in WUSA9’s “Heart of It” Segment
Written by: Nanci Sundel Posted on: March 25, 2025 Tagged: WUSA9, Community, Special Needs, TV Segment, The Heart of It, Open Door Sports, disabilities Blog: News
Open Door Sports Inc. was featured in WUSA9’s “The Heart of It” segment with Sean Martinelli on Thursday, February 20, 2025. "The Heart of It” highlights inspiring and heartwarming stories from the local community, focusing on individuals or groups making a positive impact in the DMV area, featuring acts of kindness, overcoming challenges or remarkable personal stories. Unlike typical news stories, “The Heart of It” aims to showcase uplifting and emotional stories that leave viewers feeling hopeful.
The news piece included an interview with Executive Director, Sarah Albus, describing the seminal moment on a ski trip when Sarah realized that she wanted to make sports more accessible for her daughter, Hannah, who has cerebral palsy and is legally blind, as well as other children with special needs. It shows a typical ODS basketball session, coached by Mary Carpenter at Tilden Middle School. Sean also interviewed Mai Nguyen, mother of James, who relates how James counts down the days until school and his next ODS program starts.
Watch the 3 minute clip here: WUSA9 “Heart of It” Featuring ODS