WDWWT?

PirateBarbie

This may start a fight. . . do you think they should allow the kid to try out/play? why/why not?

source: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/High-School-Autism-Football-209510191.html

"The parents of a teenager with autism are suing New Jersey's high school sports governing body, saying his civil rights were violated when he was due a fifth year of eligibility.

Anthony Starego’s parents attribute much of his academic and social progress over the last four years to being a member of the Brick High football team.

In a federal court filing first reported by the Asbury Park Press, the family says the starting placekicker is entitled to play another year because he functions academically like a 10-year old.

In a copy of the lawsuit obtained by NBC10 Philadelphia, Starego’s parents ask for the court to intervene to “allow him to compete for a placekicker spot on the Brick township High School football team for the fall.”

The lawsuit further argues that Anthony should be allowed to play if he earns his spot on the team.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association last month denied him further eligibility because he'll be 19 and has played four years.

The group says the lawsuit is premature because the matter is before the state's education commissioner."

DG1

Does the full article talk about what grounds the parents are arguing this on? If "functions academically like a 10yo" is the criteria, then he probably shouldn't be eligible for HS sports at all. And if academic function below college level is reasonable criteria, exactly when will this child become ineligible? 

Also totally relevant - what about mainstreamed kids who just flunk, say, their sophomore year and have to repeat? Do they get to play for 5 years? 

I do feel badly for the kid, especially if the football really is a big part of his academic and social progress, but he's only entitled to the same access as everyone else. It's not a charity.

amaryann210

Students with disabilities are allowed to stay in high school to the age of 21, under ADA law.  I don't know if this applies to participation in sports, however. 

zsazsa-stl

They need to find a different organization for him -an adult league through the YMCA or the parks system or something.

It also isn't fair to the other schools to play against someone with the size and experience of a college player.

VarunaTT

I don't really see why this is an issue for the school district.  If the student is in the school and meets the academic standard for playing, why shouldn't they play if they had to stay longer?

He's a place kicker...he's the guy who goes and kicks the ball for the conversion point.  He's not tackling or being tackled.  And most of the people on the high school teams were large enough to handle him for the last 4 years, it's not like he turned into a giant overnight.  Even if here were the quarterback, I still don't see what any of this would matter (and would probably assume he was being held back for nefarious winning purposes).  I really don't see anything wrong with, "This is a highly specialized situation that is not applicable to a supermajority of our students.  He'll be playing".

VarunaTT

This has more details:  http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2013/05/parents_of_autistic_kicker_from_brick_high_sue_njsiaa_after_son_not_granted_eligibility.html

6fsn

I'm going to sit with zsa that it's not really far to the other teams and he should look for other outlets.

I can't find the article, but there is a case in Ohio where a kid has an assistance dog and the teacher is allergic.  It made me wonder who really had more rights.  This was a smaller area too so it's not like there were a lot of special ed services.

zsazsa-stl

I missed the place kicker part before. But I still think that the rules are there for a reason. If its just the structure of practice and being on a team, then can't they give him another job? Student coach? Team manager?

PirateBarbie

DG1 said:

Does the full article talk about what grounds the parents are arguing this on? If "functions academically like a 10yo" is the criteria, then he probably shouldn't be eligible for HS sports at all. And if academic function below college level is reasonable criteria, exactly when will this child become ineligible? 

I had this exact same question. If he's academically on par with a 4th grader (10yo), how in the world is he academically eligible to play in high school? 

I think that since he's played 4 years, he should be ineligible if he's a 5th year senior due to academic performance (even if it's due to special needs.) 

Why not invite the kid to be an assistant to the coaching staff / help the new kickers train/practice. He'll still have the benefit of being involved with the team/sports, but at the same time there's no concern over eligibility of a 5th year senior, academic ability, other kids missing out on their opportunity to play. 

VarunaTT

Academic eligibility is just your GPA, right (that's all I can remember of my HS requirements)?  He's not competing with the normal kids in their classes, so he might have a high enough GPA in his classes to be eligible.

GBCK

Academic eligibility is actually a bit more than GPA, isn't it?--isn't it connected w/ the rules about eligability that are supposed to keep rampant abuse out of the system?  Aren't those the rules that govern keeping it amateur and all that jazz?

I thought these rules about 4 years were in place because schools 'accidentally' used to (with parental and student knowledge) prevent someone from graduating so they'd have a 5th year on the team and take them to victory.  They're also supposed to prevent schools from bribing students to play, from sniping talent from other schools, etc.

And I think this would open a whole new door to rampant abuse.

amaryann210

According to the second article, under ADA (Americas with Disabilities Act), as long as he qualifies academically for sports, they have to allow him to play.  However, New Jersey's statutues say he's over the age limit.  I think this is an interesting case and could have ramifications for students with disabilities that prolong their high school education.