Arkansas Disability Coalition Parent Training and Information Center

Arkansas Disability Coalition
Parent Training and Information Center
Our mission is to provide information, training, and support to families in order to maximize their
child’s educational experience. In doing so, we hope to bridge the gap between families and schools
creating a cohesive relationship that will positively impact the future of children with disabilities.
September Newsletter 2013
What You Need to Know About Students with Special Needs and
Participation in Interscholastic Athletics
Is your child with a physical or learning disability being denied an equal opportunity to participate in Interscholastic Athletics? With federal laws being violated by public school districts, the U.S. Government
Accountability Office (“GAO”) recommended that the United States Department of Education, the Department
responsible for enforcement of Section 504, issue guidance to provide an overview of the obligations of public
elementary and secondary schools under Section 504.
What is Section 504? Section 504 is officially titled: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under the Department’s Section 504 regulations, a school district is required to provide a qualified student with a disability an
opportunity to benefit from the school district’s program equal to that of students without disabilities.
Does This Mean that My Child With A Disability Automatically Makes the Team? Just because a student is a
“qualified” student with a disability does not mean that the student must be allowed to participate in any selective
or competitive program offered by a school district; school districts may require a level of skill or ability of a student
in order for that student to participate in a selective or competitive program or activity, so long as the selection or
competition criteria are not discriminatory.
What Schools Cannot Do: The Section 504 Regulations prohibit school districts from: 1: denying a qualified student with a disability the opportunity to participate in or benefit from an aid, benefit, or service; 2: affording a
qualified student with a disability an opportunity to participate in or benefit from an aid, benefit, or service that is
not equal to that afforded others; 3: providing a qualified student with a disability with an aid, benefit, or service
that is not as effective as that provided to others and does not afford that student with an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, gain the same benefit, or reach the same level of achievement in the most integrated setting
appropriate to the student’s needs.
Can a School Preclude Students With Specific Disabilities from Participating in Activities or Sports? A school district may not operate its program or activity on the basis of generalizations, assumptions, prejudices, or stereotypes
about disability generally, or specific disabilities in particular. A school district also may not rely on generalizations
about what students with a type of disability are capable of as one student with a certain type of disability may not
be able to play a certain type of sport, but another student with the same disability may be able to play that sport.
What is the School Required to do to Ensure the Equal Opportunity to Participate in athletics and extracurricular
activities? A school district that offers extracurricular athletics must do so in such manner as is necessary to afford
qualified students with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation. This means making reasonable modifications and providing those aids and services that are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate, unless the school district can show that doing so would be a fundamental alteration to its program.
To read full article by Michael Dorfman click below
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/07/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-students-with-special-needsand-participation-in-interscholastic-athletics/
ADC/PTI News
Coming to an underserved community near you….
We are pleased to announce that we’ve received a nice grant award in
the amount of $7,923 from Ag for Autism, a Jonesboro based,
agriculturally aligned company dedicated to the service of families
struggling with autism. We will use the grant funds to reach even
further out into the communities we serve, to help parents of
disabled children navigate the system and help them become their
child’s best advocate. Thank you Ag for Autism!!!
Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying
On October 12, 2013 you can take action to help students, families, educators and the community
address bullying prevention by supporting our 2nd annual Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying 5K & 1
Mile Fun Run event.
Bullying is a serious issue that affects all students, especially students with disabilities. Nationally,
more than 160,000 children nationwide stay home from school to avoid being bullied and the effects
can be lifelong, even tragic. Most of us remember witnessing bullying, being the target of bullying or
maybe even being the bully.
If you would like to volunteer, or become a sponsor please contact our office at 870-336-2784
If you would like to register for the race please visit
http://www.racesonline.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.race_detail&race_id=14048
It’s that time year again!!
NEA District Fair
Youth More Than Art: THIS IS A SPECIAL
CATEGORY OPEN TO YOUTH (AGES 5-19)
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
Adult More Than Art: THIS IS A SPECIAL
CATEGORY OPEN TO ADULTS WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
For more information on rules and regulations for
submitting artwork visit www.neadistrictfair.com
or contact them at (870) 935-4331
UPCOMING
EVENTS
September 6: Panel Discussion on Autism. Event will take place at
CPRC Library, 614 E. Emma Suite131, Springdale, AR. 12:00pm –
1:30pm. Meet with an occupational therapist, speech therapist and
physical therapy from Children’s Therapy TEAM to discuss
questions and concerns you may have about autism.
September 10: Autism Support Group. Event will take place at The
Center for Non-Profits in Rogers, AR. 6:00pm – 7:30pm. For more
information contact Paula Taylor at
paula.taylor@nwaautismsupport.com (479)899-6165
September 10: Arkansas DD Network Community Inclusion Resource Fair. Event will take
place at Nettleton Baptist Church, 4701 E. Nettleton Ave in Jonesboro, AR from 1-3pm and
5-7pm. For more information contact, SeRonna Roders, SeRonna@arkdisabilityrights.org or
call 800-482-1174 V/TTY
September 14: Unique Connections presents The 5 W’s of Behavior Who, What, When, Where
& Why. Event will take place at Mercy Health Center, Mercy Room, 300 Werner St., Hot
Springs, AR from 9:00am-12:00pm (Registration will begin at 8:30am). For Questions contact
Michelle 501-276-4530 or Teresa 501-337-6012. CEUs are available!
September 17: Down Syndrome Connection Support Group. Event will take place at St.
Thomas Episcopal Church, 2898 S. 48th St. in Springdale, AR. For more information on what
time they will be meeting or to find contact information visit their website at
www.dscnwa.org
September 19: IEP Training. Event will take place at CPRC Library, 614 E. Emma Suite131,
Springdale, AR from 12pm – 1pm.
September 23: Arkansas Parenting Education Network (APEN) For more information contact
Tammy Gray at (510) 664-2227 or apen@arkansasctf.org
September 26: Autism Support Group. Event will take place at Arkansas Regional Therapy
Services in Fayetteville, AR. 6:30pm – 8:00pm. For more information contact Paula Taylor
at paula.taylor@nwaautismsupport.com or (479)899-6165
September 26 & 27: DD Network Conference. For more information contact Alicia Brown at
1-800-462-0599 or Alicia.t.brown@arkansas.gov
September 28: Gettin' Down For Down Syndrome. Event will take place at Woody's
Sherwood Forest, 1111 W. Maryland Avenue, Sherwood, AR. Registration 10:00 am - 12:00
pm. Dance 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Registration must be received by September 14 to guarantee
t-shirt and meal. For more information contact 501-223-DOWN (3696)
Email: ardownsyndrome@aol.com
September 28: Sensory Saturday. 9:30am at Malco Hollywood in Jonesboro. Movie: Cloudy
With A Chance of Meatballs 2. Tickets are $5.50 per person. For more information contact
870.336.2784
September 28: Greene County Special Needs Children Association presents Auto & Cycle
Show. Event will take place at HWY 135 N in Lafe, AR from 8am-2pm. For more information
contact Jerry or Teresa Cunningham at 870-573-2101 or 870-450-3180
Arkansas Disability Coalition
Parent Training and Information Center
The Arkansas Disability Coalition Parent Training
Center is a grant project Funded through the Office of
Special Education Programs.
Our services are provided at no charge.
1501 N. University Avenue, Ste. 268
Little Rock, AR 72207
Local: 501-614-7020
Toll Free: 800-223-1330
www.adcpti.org
Staff:
Wanda Horton
ADC PTI Executive Director
wanda.horton@adcpti.org
Shelby Knight
Training Coordinator and
Parent Educator (Northeast)
shelby.knight@adcpti.org
Mary Holmes
Parent Educator (Southwest)
mary.holmes@adcpti.org
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Karen Lutrick
Parent Educator (Central)
karen.lutrick@adcpti.org
April Milloway
Parent Educator (Northeast)
april.milloway@adcpti.org
Lakesha Whitman
Parent Educator (Southeast)
lakesha.whitman@adcpti.org
The contents of this newsletter were developed under a
grant from the US Department of Education,
#H328M120029. However, those contents do not
necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of
Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the
Federal Government.
Stephanie Young
Parent Educator (West)
stephanie.young@adcpti.org