Love of the game drives employee to compete in Beep Baseball World Series

There are six fielders who cover different zones. If a fielder picks up a batted ball before the hitter makes it to the designated base, the batter is out. If the batter gets to the base before a fielder gets the ball, it counts as a run. There is no running between bases.

The pitcher and catcher are not visually impaired and pitchers pitch to their own team, with the goal of throwing a pitch the batter can hit. Because players have different levels of visual disabilities, the batter and fielders wear blindfolds. There will also be at least one spotter in the field who isn't visually impaired and can give limited instructions to fielders, with the goal of helping to prevent fielders from colliding while going after a ball.

"The spotters don't always save us," Jackson said. "There are collisions and some of us can get pretty banged up."

Jackson has competed in the National Beep Baseball Association World Series four times, including this year and last year with the Texas-based Tyler Tigers.

"There haven't always been a lot of options for us when it comes to competing at that level and it's wonderful when you can do this," he said. "The competition and the camaraderie with the different teams is second to none."

Accessibility in action

It's a similar camaraderie that Jackson said he loves about his team at the bank. Because he and his fellow accessibility experience designers are embedded within each of the digital product teams, they can have a significant impact on the way digital tools like the mobile app and online banking look and function.

The team works to help U.S. Bank clients do their digital banking with simplicity and ease - regardless of any permanent, situational or temporary disability.

Jackson said he's already looking forward to next year's Beep Baseball World Series.

"Oh man, I love playing," he said. "There are only three things I love more than the sport of beep baseball: my faith in God, my family and what I do every day when I show up to work, which is to make a difference in individuals' lives by empowering them to impact the world through accessible products."