Posted on 01/26/2013 7:59:57 AM PST by servo1969
School districts that do not provide deaf students "a visual cue" alongside a starter pistol to enable them to compete on the track team or create basketball and tennis leagues for students in wheelchairs will be in violation of federal law and could lose government funding.
On Friday, the Obama administration declared disabled students "have the right" to "an equal opportunity to participate in their schools' extracurricular activities." In essence, the Obama administration established the right for disabled students to play wheelchair basketball or wheelchair tennis.
The U.S. Department of Education sent a guidance letter to schools, school districts, and universities informing them of the new mandate, which noted that a "2010 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that many students with disabilities are not afforded an equal opportunity to participate in athletics, and therefore may not have equitable access to the health and social benefits of athletic participation."
Seth Galanter, the Department’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. He specifically noted that the Act was a federal law “designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities (including traditional public schools and charter schools) that receive Federal financial assistance.”
If school districts and universities do not provide accommodations the OCR deems sufficient, they could lose federal funding. The mandate is being compared to Title IX, which deemed that no person should be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, "denied the benefits of," or "subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Why not have target shooting at schools? Archery?
Just think of a running anything with a wheelchair on a track team. He or she could rack up a lot of trophies.
One effect of this regulation will undoubtedly be even more kids being declared disabled than have been since parents started getting paid for the diagnosis.
Who gets paid for having disabled kids? Both of my kid are considered disabled and we don’t get anything.
I would just like tax breaks for therapy. The doctors are telling me all these things that would be beneficial for my daughter with dystonia: massages, yoga, exercise programs. We can’t afford it. The physical therapist isn’t even covered by our insurance because she is out of network.
Of course, I would like a tax break for private school.
It’s difficult to get diagnosis.
If she couldn’t play her flute, why the hell should she be allowed to march and hold a flute?
Why do you then believe it is all right for this same person to hold a clarinet or drum if she doesn’t play those instruments.
Yes anyone could hold and fake that they are playing, but why?
I am a flute player. A good one. I worked hard since the day I first picked it up to be the best I could. I am offended and appalled that you think it is ok to let people without the physical skills necessary, to march and fake it.
This pandering crap needs to stop. Some people can’t do some things. That’s life. Your reply made me feel like I was on DU.
SSI. There are, of course, income limits.
I am sorry your daughter is disabled.
But why do you feel the taxpayer owes you anything for the care, treatment, and socialization of your children?
A tax break is the same thing as “government funding”.
A tax break is a far thing from government funding.
I don’t think I should pay taxes to fund public school that my kinds don’t use.
I don’t think I should pay taxes to fund healthcare for other people and then have to also pay for it for ourselves.
I’m funding everyone else but don’t have enough for the correct therapies for my own family.
On top of that Obamacare just limited flexible spending accounts.
Heck, a lot of the band isn’t playing when marching. No one notices.
We are funding other peoples problems. None of it is right.
But in the same token... I don’t want to fund your family’s problems either.
If you don’t like the sports programs available to your daughter.... go start one you do like.
I wish everyone would help themselves instead of always blaming others and looking to others for help.
It is not right for you to be funding others medical, financial, and social problems. But thinking you need big daddy govt. to help with your problems is wrong.
Good marching bands have everyone playing their instruments while marching. I should know, I was a member of one in high school.
It is so offensive to me to hear these off handed, casual remarks of “just fake it”.
Believe me, there are members in every band who strive to be the best. Who take playing their instruments very seriously.
The kids in this country need to strive for excellence. This “just fake it” and “just have fun” attitude is disturbing.
I don’t expect the government to suddenly start thinking A is A...but when the heck are the people who suffer under their “A is not A” decrees going to wake up and quit trying to do the impossible?
I whole-heartidly agree with your notion that excellence must be strived for and highly valued. As a handicapped person, believe me when I tell you that extensive practice, striving for excellence, is the hallmark of a handicapped person excelling in any sport. I funded many a lighted driving range in the territory I traveled. BUT,the monies collected in taxes are not at issue if someone gats a break from paying IN for some designated reason. That sort of upside down thinking is what drives the democrap proclamation that tax refunds are ‘government spending’ and tax cuts cost the government monies.
I never said that I want anyone to help me!
I would like tax breaks for medical things we pay for ourselves.
I would like a tax break for going to private school. I’m a huge supporter of vouchers!
I’m also identifying problems in our community. I do no think the government is the solution, but I do think we republicans put our heads in the sand and don’t find solutions to help problems in our community.
My daughter is 16. Nothing is going to help her at this time, but maybe I can fight to get help for other kids like her.
I was in the Univ of Ark marching band for two years. We did shows where many of us couldn’t play the whole thing due to the complex marching designs.
Lot’s of weird shapes moving across each other. If you didn’t go horns down...OUCH! We also did arrangements where only the brass and drums played the whole piece while the rest of us made lettering.
Of course, there were 250 of us on the field.
I have a problem with only “certain” people getting tax cuts. I am for all people paying a small percentage of tax. Equal percentage across the board.
I do not have a problem with letting people keep their money. Whether they have a lot of it or a little.
I do have a problem with people feeling the are special and want the rest of us to pony up while they get breaks.
Equal percentage for all.
It doesn’t take a village to raise a child. It takes you, the parent.
I marched in an award winning band in west Texas. 300 members strong.
Very tough director. If you weren’t playing while marching, you were gone.
I understand some marchers fake it. I am saying that there are great bands that do not allow it.
I believe letting someone who does not have the capabilities to go out on the field and fake it is wrong. To me, as a musician, it is offensive.
I find it offensive too. I worked at my sports, probably as hard if not harder than the fitamong us. It is offensive to give someone something they do not earn. It is done just to make the ‘giver’ feel better. Excellence is a dying goal in the little barry abstard boy and his henchgoon democrips’ world.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.