On August 11, 2016, an announcement was made that will forever change the lives of adults and children alike living with disabilities in the United States. The announcement is one that invokes hope, strength, power, inspiration, and success through difficult circumstances. In a Press Release, the Professional Wheelchair Basketball League announced they are coming to the United States in 2017 (http://www.pr.com/press-release/683472).

Within the wheelchair basketball community, there are different "levels" on which players can participate. There is Prep (ages 3-12), Junior (ages 12-high school grad), College (anyone attending a college that offers the sport), Division 3 (adult team), Division 2 (higher level adult team), and Division 1- the Championship Division. Then, of course, players are pulled from different teams to play on the USA team for the Paralympic games every four years. All these levels of the game help the athletes build skill and work up to larger competitions.

When the Professional Wheelchair Basketball League comes in, it will be the highest level of the sport- comparable to the NBA level of basketball. And similar to the NBA, the PWBL will schedule a total of 28 games per season- 14 home games, and 14 away games. It has not yet been announced where in the United States the league will establish teams, but the PWBL has said they will introduce at least 8 new franchise teams in 2017, with at least 8 more teams following in a few short years to come.

WATCH: PWBL's Promo Video (Caution: Have tissues on the stand-by)

Now, the news of the PWBL coming to the U.S. is huge for many reasons. This will mean more jobs for people with disabilities, a well deserved spotlight for these talented athletes, and, most importantly, multiple examples of strength through circumstances that could easily weigh a person down.

For me personally, growing up with a disability was hard at times. I had a twin sister who was born without any ailments, while I was born with some pretty major problems. After many, many surgeries throughout my childhood, I will now live the rest of my life between four-arm crutches and a wheelchair.

Reading this announcement a few days ago has brought a new sense of deep joy and fulfillment, belonging and community that I have never quite experienced on this certain level previously. Growing up, I was the only person at my school, at my church, and in my community really, that I knew was like me. I met kids with disabilities in hospitals when I had extended stays, but when I'd return home, for the most part, I'd feel once again different and weaker than all others. Family and friends were always very supportive and helpful through the harder times, but as much as they did, they just didn't and couldn't understand what it felt like to see everyone around me, every single day do simple tasks that were so difficult, painful, or flat out impossible for me to do. Living differently from others didn't consistently bother me, but it did hit hard at times when I felt I couldn't be truly understood by others who didn't live the life I lived every day. Gratefully, for me, I was and have been able to find a lot of inner strength and peace through religion, for which I will be forever grateful for.

In any case, reflecting on all these intense and personal feelings, I believe this is the most beautiful part of the recent announcement: The hope, the community, and the role models that this will bring into children's lives that live with disabilities. I know for me, it would have changed everything to have been able to know and look up to an adult living with a disability accomplishing something so unexpectedly awesome and incredible each day for their career. It would have helped me learn a lot sooner, that the only disability a person has is the limits they place on themselves. That every single person living on the planet as weaknesses, whether or not they are "visible" like mine. And that despite these weaknesses that each of us live with, we can find the power to overcome, and become mighty.

For more information on how you can help PWBL move forward on their inspiring venture, please visit

http://pwblenterprises.com.