Section 504 of the Rehabiliation Act and "Disabled" Student-Athletes

by Paul Artale

CRA Vice Chair for Communications 

Coordinator of Leadership Education, Michigan State University

Keynote Speaker (www.paulartale.com)

Last January, the U.S. Department of Educations’ office of Civil Rights created a “dear colleague” letter in which it declared that public institutions needed to offer equal athletic opportunities for disabled athletes under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  The move marked a significant shift in how we view access to athletics and recreation within an educational context.  Equal access was no longer just a gender issue.  In my opinion, the circle of inclusivity has grown and is a win for the disabled community.

With all this in mind little is known about how this rule is going to be enforced or what exactly this will look like for the average school.    Many of the implications are a little cloudy right now.  There is one aspect, however, that is not murky: the right to try out.  All students now have the right to try out for a team and receive a reasonable accommodation regardless of disability. A simple example is the student who is hearing impaired now has the right to request an interpreter to translate instructions during try outs and games.   

Schools also have the option of creating their own leagues for students with disabilities as well.

This true impact of this legislation will likely be felt at the K-12 level in its initial phases.  That being said, there is a trickle up effect into higher education.  As more students with disabilities gain athletic experience and opportunity (particularly in Varsity sports) the more they will gain the talent and confidence to try out at the collegiate level.  The demand for students who wish to play at the recreational or club level will also increase in the coming years.  The demand will increase and higher education administrators must be ready to meet that challenge- especially when it comes to competing in integrated leagues.

The law itself is not the main reason for the increase in demand.  The law definitely has the potential to force the hand of some schools or “less enlightened” coaches to give athletes with disabilities a fair opportunity to try out.  The internet and the growth of fantastic community organizations, however, are what will fuel this long term growth.  

Let me explain.

For the longest time as a kid, I did not have any athletes who were disabled as role models.  There were no communities that promoted athletics beyond the Special Olympics model.  I wanted and was able to compete with everyone else but found myself fighting uphill battles.  Luckily I grew up just as Jim Abbott was making headlines (and winning baseball games).  Jim inspired me.  If Jim could do it, I could do it.  That being said, competing collegiately was a double edged sword.   On one hand I was there and making my dreams come true which was (and still is) totally awesome.  On the other hand I was the only the only player with a limb difference and I didn’t know anybody who could share my experience.

The landscape has improved considerably since I was a child.  Today there are an increasing amount of organizations out there committed to helping athletes with disabilities compete at the highest level possible.  Organizations such as Nubability Athletics whose purpose is to ”to encourage, inspire, and instruct congenital and traumatic amputee kids who want to get out of the stands, off the bench and into the game. “  Every summer Nubability hosts camps where all the coaches themselves are limb different athletes who have competed at high levels.  They are inspiring belief, providing mentorship, and setting an example from a very young age.  The result: a host of future college students who want to get in the game because they know that they can.  They know this because by the time they apply they will have been exposed to countless success stories.

Change is at the doorstep and a new wave of student-athlete is knocking.   As student affairs administrators let us make sure that the door is opened whether are students are asking for a tryout with the football team or the chance to play ultimate frisbee.  The day when athletes such as Anthony Robles, Joe Rogers, or Jim Abbott will become more commonplace is a lot closer than we think.

___

Paul Artale is a keynote speaker, trainer, and student affairs administrator at Michigan State University.  He can be contacted at artalepa@msu.edu or by visitng his website at www.paulartale.com

For more information on NubAbility please visit www.nubability.org

Your Life May Depend On It

by Darcy Keith,

Keynote Speaker 

 www.darcykeith.com

 With the recent Frontline documentary on the NFL and their denial of the concussion issue, along with the million dollar settlement for retired NFL players, it’s no wonder why brain injuries are the topic of discussion in the sports world.  But with the increased information available about this subject to make informed playing decisions, why aren’t more athletes considering this information as if their life depended on it?

    Being an NFL Rookie Success Program speaker on the “Traffic Education and Decision Making” module and also an expert on concussion, I’ve had the privilege to give an insider’s view into the topic of concussion.  You see, I sustained two traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as a college senior.  In one instant, I went from a college senior who had everything going for me to a paralyzed, diaper-wearing individual with the mental ability of a five year-old.  My life, as I thought, was over.  Or was it?  

    Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries, can occur in just about any sport.  Most of them are recoverable.  In other words, the athlete’s playing career isn’t over.   There is a lot of good information about the signs, symptoms, concussion management, and long-term effects from repeated concussions on the web.  Many sports are implementing new concussion avoidance techniques such as limited contact during practice, new tackling guidelines, wearing “concussion caps” and more.  What else can be done today to help our student-athletes of tomorrow?

    One of the first steps is going to be a tough one for football.  America loves this hard-hitting sport.  From game highlights to the “best of” videos, the public associates football with “getting your bell rung”.  Not only is concussion education needed, we also need a paradigm shift in our thinking.  No longer should the game highlights include a player getting leveled from a hit or a helmet crushing blow, but instead showing good tackles and safer play.  I realize that I will receive much criticism for that statement.  Kids mimic their NFL role models.  If they see hard hits, they give them, too. But, they will also model good tackling demonstrated by their NFL heroes.

    Last year, I received a phone call from a retired Chicago Bears player.  He was experiencing memory issues, which led to depression.  He was calling me for help and guidance.  I’ve seen and talked with some of these retired NFL players, who are now experiencing issues that are very likely caused from multiple concussions.  Some people argue that the retired players would have continued to play knowing the concussion risks of long-term problems, such as dementia.  But, wouldn’t you have wanted to know, as a player going into that decision, the facts of what multiple concussive and subconcussive blows to the head would cause?  Younger athletes can’t make the decision.  Their parents do.  We parents must make informed decisions on their behalf in their best interest, not because there is a full-ride scholarship on the line if they don’t play.  I know of several players college-aged and younger who no longer play football because their doctor told them they’ve had too many concussions.  It’s a tough decision for parents to decide if their child play or not, but they must be armed with necessary information so that what’s best for their child is taken into consideration.

    When I ask the NFL rookies if they want to admit receiving a concussion while playing, many of them raise their hands like it was a badge of honor.  Asking them how they feel after receiving a concussion, some told me experiences including lights in a room being too bright, loud noises now bothered them, and they had been dazed.  With the threat of other teammates wanting to be the “next man up”, the rookies were going to play through the concussion.  But, that begs the question, “When is enough, enough?”

    Almost all players in sports want to continue playing despite injury.  That’s a fact.  If a player has a torn ACL, broken arm or leg, the injured area isn’t used until it heals. But, a concussion isn’t something that can be seen like a broken arm or leg.  If a player says his/her head doesn’t feel right, he/she runs the risk of being looked down on, lose future playing time, or some other consequence.  They play through it, not wanting to sit on the sidelines or let the team down.  Many others just love to play the game and will do so at all costs.  Whatever the motivation, it’s important to recognize these issues with the student-athletes and employ practical strategies to help them.

    Football is not just a game.  It’s about people.  It’s about a player’s long-term health.  It’s about the quality of life as we get older.  My life wasn’t over after receiving two traumatic brain injuries.  In fact, I went back to college, and despite memory issues, graduated and now am a professional speaker, sharing my secrets of success with others.  The key is gathering information and being educated about concussions in order to make informed decisions that affect not only the player, but also his/her family. What we can do to help our student-athletes and parents is to provide them with this information and make sure they understand it.  After all, their lives may depend on it.