NCHPAD in the News: Girls Bask in Their New Destiny: Cheerleaders
On September 21, 2007 the Washington Post ran an article by reporter Donna St. George entitled "Girls Bask in their New Destiny: Cheerleaders". This story highlights Destiny, a cheerleading team comprised completely of girls with developmental disabilities, and quotes NCHPAD director James Rimmer on the great need for before-and-after-school sports and recreation programs for those with physical and intellectual disabilities. To read the article visit:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002703.html.
Physical Activity in the News
Online Competition Seeks Children's Ideas!
HopeLab is looking for product ideas that will get kids moving! Ruckus Nation is an online competition that challenges people to imagine innovative products that will increase physical activity among kids ages 11 to 14. We're inviting you to participate as a contestant or judge and to help us spread the word. People of all ages can enter their ideas to Ruckus Nation and win - win the opportunity to help kids, win recognition for their idea, and win cash prizes. HopeLab will support the development, testing and distribution of products based on the best ideas, and more than $300,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to winning entries! Register now at www.ruckusnation.com, and keep in mind these dates and deadlines:
- September 18 - contestant and judge registration opened,
- October 15 - contestant registration closes; space is limited, so don't delay
- November 20 - final entry deadline
Ruckus Nation Flyer: www.ruckusnation.com/pdf/RN_Flyer.pdf.
Soccer Development League, NSCD and US Paralympics, Spring 2008, Chicagoland area
The NSCD, through a partnership with US Paralympics and local soccer clubs has established a soccer league for children with physical disabilities who are ambulatory. The Soccer Development league is specifically for children with physical challenges. This program is the first of its kind serving and developing athletes that are Paralympic eligible in the sport of soccer. Participants will receive top level coaching from local club soccer teams such as Eclipse Soccer and the Chicago Magic. Boys and girls ages 6-18 (+/-) with a physical disability such as cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, spina bifida, muscle disorder or stroke who do not use any assistive devices for walking or running are eligible to participate.
For the start of the Spring 2008 season, teams will be located throughout the Chicago area, with a 4 teams located in Libertyville, Wheaton, Frankfort and a central, downtown location. The registration fee will be $75.00 for the entire spring season and scholarships to cover all costs are available to those in financial need.
If interested in participating and to request more information, please contact Scott Dameron with the National Sports Center for the Disabled at 303-293-5310 or through email at: sdameron@nscd.org
Golf Program for Veterans with Disabilities
Leo Goldman, an 84 year old man with Parkinson's disease, bronchiectasis, congestive heart failure, and anemia was previously featured in our Community Voice column discussing his experiences with adaptive golf (http://www.ncpad.org/451/2303/Community~Voice~~Leo~Goldman~~Spreading~the~Benefits~
of~Golf~to~Others). He is still in need of help raising money to provide resources and instruction so that veterans with disabilities in the Miami area can benefit from playing golf. Transportation would be provided and donations of adaptive equipment have been requested from various companies. Leo has also requested time on public golf courses from the city, but will also pursue funding to purchase time on private golf courses if needed.
For more information, or to participate in this program, please contact:
Leo Goldman
plgleo@yahoo.com
20610 NE 7th Court
N. Miami Beach, FL 33179
H: 305-653-5863
Disability in the News
Rights of Robbinsdale Special-Ed Students were Denied, Appeals Court Rules
Canceling adaptive swimming classes violated 31 special-education students' rights to a free and appropriate education, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled. A suburban Minneapolis district, which has received other special-education complaints, ended the $75,000 a year program in 2005 without notifying parents as required under IDEA. For the full story visit: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1447544.html.
US Access Board holds Hearing on Outdoor Developed Areas
On September 6, the US Access Board held a public hearing on guidelines it has proposed for Federal parks and recreation areas. These guidelines, which cover trails, beach access routes, and picnic and camping areas, are intended to clarify how, and to what extent, access can be achieved in developing or altering Federal outdoor sites. The event provided an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the guidelines directly to the Board.
Representatives from Federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior, participated in the hearing and provided testimony. Other speakers included representatives from various industry and consumer organizations, among them the National Recreation and Park Association, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the American Council of the Blind, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Trail designers, park operators, product manufacturers, a state ADA coordinator, and others also provided input on the guidelines.
Hearing testimony will be posted on the Board's website along with other comments received to date. This hearing follows one held in Denver in July. A third and final hearing took place September 26 in Indianapolis in conjunction with the National Recreation and Park Association's annual congress. The guidelines are available for public comment until October 18, 2007 on-line at: http://www.access-board.gov/outdoor/nprm/.
Mobility International USA International Exchange Program for Youth Leadership, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, March 9-31, 2008
This program is for U.S. youth ages 15 - 17 (by March 10, 2008) with and without disabilities. Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is currently accepting applications from highly motivated high school students with and without disabilities from throughout the U.S.
Those selected for the Youth Citizenship for Disability Inclusion Exchange Program will travel to Manama Bahrain with MIUSA staff, as citizen ambassadors of the U.S. during a 21-day leadership program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Youth will participate in workshops, panel discussions, cultural activities and site visits focusing on youth leadership, education and the role of young citizens with disabilities in civil society. Individuals selected for the program will receive a generous program scholarship to cover international airfare, program activities and materials, meals, lodging, disability-related accommodations, health insurance and accessible transportation.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 19, 2007. Application materials and further information about Bahrain and the exchange program can also be found at: http://www.miusa.org/miusa-exchange-programs, by e-mail at: lshula@miusa.org, or by Tel/TTY at: 541-343-1284. Application materials are available in alternative formats upon request.
Call for Submissions on Disability & the Environment, Breath & Shadow, October 31, 2007
This online journal of literature and disability culture, seeks submissions specifically from writers with disabilities, of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, theater, reviews or interviews for its January 2008 issue on the theme of "Disability & the Environment."
Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath/write.html while the current issue can be found at http://www.abilitymaine.org/breath. To send poetry, fiction, or theater, please submit to breathandshadow@aol.com but for interviews, book reviews, or nonfiction, please query first by October 7 to breathandshadow@aol.com, both with "ENVIRO" in the subject line, along with name, form of your submission or query, and number of poems or title of your piece.