Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Casting Off Labels LEGAL DISABILITIES WON’T KEEP KIDS FROM PLAYING BALL
U. S. 62, NW — More and more student/athletes who are considered legally disabled are casting off the label by choosing to participate in high school athletics.
The American Heritage dictionary defines disable as to weaken or destroy the normal physical or mental capabilities, to incapacitate, or to render legally disqualified. Yet, childhood maladies such as autism or juvenile diabetes need not prevent youth from going out for sports.
According to a 2013 press release from the Arkansas Activities Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is in full support of the policy of inclusion that underlies the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for K-12 schools to provide opportunities for disabled students to participate on athletic teams.
In a recent high school athletics participation survey, the NFHS’ 51 member state associations and the 19,100 schools in those associations reported almost 7.7 million boys and girls participate in high school sports. Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director, said even more individuals now will have the opportunity for that once- in- alifetime experience of high school sports.
“We believe in the values of participation for all students,” Gardner said. “Providing opportunities for disabled students adds value to their educational experiences.”
According to the American Heritage dictionary, one of the defining characteristics of autism is withdrawal — so what better way to overcome the social deficiency than to go out for football. Ryan Holcomb, now a senior at Lincoln, accepted an invitation sent out by letter to all incoming Lincoln seventh-graders from then new head coach Brad Harris six years ago and inspired by team camaraderie through play- ing football opened up his world sharing himself as a person. This year Ryan passed his driver’s test and now enjoys chauffeuring his grandparents who raised him, R.F. and Sharon Holcomb.
“The social part of his life has changed so much. It’s given him so much confidence in life. Ryan is one kid I can look back on and say we definitely helped,” Harris said.
Ryan’s younger brother, Soggie, followed him into the ranks of Lincoln football last season as a seventh grader despite dealing with juvenile diabetes. He is out again this season as an eighthgrader and is enjoying the sport.
Soggie encourages other children, who may be facing challenges of their own, to realize they can participate in life, even in a sport as violent as football.
“You can do what you want. You should do it if you really want to,” Soggie said. “I haven’t let diabetes rule me.”
At Farmington, senior pitcher Jordin Smith and her younger sister Brooke, a sophomore, play softball in the spring and both have juvenile diabetes. Taylor, Brooke’s twin and classmate, does not have juvenile diabetes and plays basketball.
Jordin is looking for an athletic scholarship and her mother Lorinda Smith said the family is currently looking at a program Jordin is interested in.
“Hopefully that will work out,” Lorinda Smith said. “We have always encouraged our daughters’ involvement with the high school sports in an effort to improve their self-confidence and enhance appropriate peer relationships. We noticed that our girls have a sense of focus and of being centered — and they know where they are going with their lives. As our girls’ skills improve and their confidence rises, we, as parents, are so excited to watch.”