Considering that the Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 1990, one wonders why it took so long to make kids' sports accessible to people with disabilities. Many compare this ruling to the 1972 ruling called Title IX which opened the door to women in athletics.
Some may fear that this law will "dumb down" competition, but that's not the point. As with employment provisions of the ADA, kids must be able to play the sport well to make the team. However, certain conventions exclude kids with disabilities. For example, someone who is deaf may be an excellent runner, but excluded from competition because a "gun shot" is used to start races. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the Education Department said,
Like their peers without disabilities, these students benefit from participating in sports. But unfortunately, we know that students with disabilities are all too often denied the chance to participate and with it, the respect that comes with inclusion. This is simply wrong. While it's the coach's job to pick the best team, students with disabilities must be judged based on their individual abilities, and not excluded because of generalizations, assumptions, prejudices, or stereotypes.
What do you think? Was this a good decision or a poor one? How will it affect school athletics going forward?
Comments
It is a terrible idea! "THE respect that comes with inclusion." BULL! Respect comes with pulling your share, contributing to a win.
One of my kids coaches Little League. The youngest kids play T-Ball and don't officially keep scores but every kid knows who the winners and losers are.
Bill, you asked, "If a person is able to do everything well that is required to be done on a sports team, which requires mental, social, psychological, and physical qualities, then in what other ways might this person be "disabled?""
A blind or a deaf swimmer, or a deaf runner, or a deaf basketball player all could fit the definitions of "disabled" and "skilled athlete." We are so used to conventional ways of doing things in sports (a starting gun or a buzzer) that we can't imagine how someone with a disability such as hearing impairment could compete. But, for example, a series of flashes could be used in addition to a buzzer to start a swim event. Oscar Pistorius is a flesh and blood example; an outstanding runner who also has a disability.
My understanding of this law is not that it will force coaches to include kids without the necessary abilities to be included on a team, but that it requires organizers of the sports to rethink how to make it possible for kids who have disabilities to compete fairly with the rest of the competition. It's purpose is to reduce disability discrimination in school sports.
Let's Discuss
We love your comments! Thank you for helping us uphold the Community Guidelines to make this an encouraging and respectful community for everyone.