Quintana Diversity, a Puerto Rican soccer club for neurodivergent young people, has grown from eight players at the start of the year to 26 in less than a year, won gold in its category at the Genuine Cup held in Houston, Texas in July representing Puerto Rico, and now aims to expand its inclusive model across the island. The club’s name dates to January 2026, but the underlying project began years ago when Omar Álvarez ran a Special Olympics soccer team; membership declined after Hurricane María and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adapted physical education teacher and coach Mike López took over as technical director, and Benjamín Martínez, head of the Academia Quintana, gave the team a permanent home, creating Quintana Diversity. The club specializes in neurodivergent young adults but also integrates neurotypical youths who demonstrate skills at practice, acting as 'coaches on the field,' López said, adding the experience teaches neurotypical youths how to treat neurodivergent people properly in everyday settings.
The club has begun developing a second group for neurodivergent children. Coach Beatriz Casellas, a psychologist by profession, said the project combines her passion for soccer with her favorite population to work with. López said the goal is to keep growing to reach more families.