Former Royals All-Star and two-sport legend Bo Jackson is taking to the TV screen on Thursday to debut a public service announcement encouraging the employment of people with disabilities. Jackson will introduce the PSA at 11:15 a.m. ET on MLB Network.
Major League Baseball and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) jointly produced the 30-second PSA as a part of PBATS' Ability Transcends Challenges program, and its goal is to increase public understanding of people with disabilities' value in society and the workplace.
"I'm very excited to be part of the PBATS initiative that will assist people with disabilities," Jackson said in a release. "This program is working hard to inform and educate the public that people with disabilities should be considered for what they can do and not marginalized for what they can't."
Jackson starred in both the Major Leagues and the National Football League, and he was also awarded college football's Heisman Trophy in 1985, before his athletic career was cut short by a major hip injury. He is the third athlete to participate in the Ability Transcends Challenges program, along with former Major Leaguers Jim Abbott and Curtis Pride.
"Arguably the greatest all-around athlete of the 20th century, Bo's willingness to discuss his disability publicly as an encouragement to others demonstrates what it really means to be a champion," PBATS president Mark O'Neal said. "Bo was an impact player on the field, and he will make a huge impact on the lives of countless people with disabilities."