Well I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't say it was difficult to get or extra special (to me, obviously the people in this story feel differently) I only said that if the requirements to have a varsity letter is to be on the varsity team, then just having a disability should not preclude someone from the rules.
And I'm sure that whether a varsity team is hard to get on depends on the school. At my HS we didn't have a great baseball team. The varsity team wasn't hard to get on because there weren't a lot of good players. We did have a lot of really good soccer players so it was more difficult to get on the varsity soccer team because there were more soccer players
Well I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't say it was difficult to get or extra special (to me, obviously the people in this story feel differently) I only said that if the requirements to have a varsity letter is to be on the varsity team, then just having a disability should not preclude someone from the rules.
Of course this is different from academics
But let's be real. The rules don't preclude it, but it wouldn't happen. I guess I just don't see why or how you could be against this? A couple of my high school life skills kids had letter jackets. They meant the world to them and were extremely proud of them. Why does it matter, especially if it means so much to a particular child?
Post by andrewsgal on Mar 29, 2015 14:53:09 GMT -5
Am also not seeing how a child having a letter Jacket but not actually participating in a varsity sport is different than a child walking at graduation but not completing requirements that everyone else does?
BTW I think a child with special needs should be able to do both.
Well I think anyone should be able to get a jacket, but since there are lots of things you can letter in I don't see this as an access issue. The law and common sense says every kid has the right to a FAPE I also believe that all students deserve equal access to sports and other physical activities.
I guess this is affecting me in a weird way because in making all of these appointments for W I'm struggling with how, when its appropriate, I will explain to G and N why he gets extra time/attention/help/whatever. And I feel like I got that. In theory. But I feel uncomfortable with "because he has a disability" in this case.
Post by andrewsgal on Mar 29, 2015 16:52:33 GMT -5
I agree that in a perfect world every kid would have access to the activities it takes to get a letter, and while every kid has access most kids with special needs won't have the skills. I guess the way I look at is most of these kids fight to do things typical kids can do on a daily basis. So who cares if he earns a letter for a club sport? It just doesn't hurt anyone.
I explain it that fair isn't equal. Fair is giving everyone what then need to be successful.
I agree that in a perfect world every kid would have access to the activities it takes to get a letter, and while every kid has access most kids with special needs won't have the skills. I guess the way I look at is most of these kids fight to do things typical kids can do on a daily basis. So who cares if he earns a letter for a club sport? It just doesn't hurt anyone.
I explain it that fair isn't equal. Fair is giving everyone what then need to be successful.
I remembering reading AG's explanation of fair a long time ago and it really sticking with me. After DS2 was born and all his issues, it was a great explanation for DS1 and helped alleviate some of the guilt I felt of the time I was having to take away from him.