Girl with no arms or legs says cheerleader tryouts were unfair

[JCAJR30]

We have some - as my wife prefers I say, "challenged" students in the school system that are team members, student managers, etc... Everyone knows that they are only going to participate for a minute of the game (actually less in game clock time) but it gives the student a sense of belonging and, i think more importantly, gives the "normal" kids an appreciation for both their God given talent as well as a little empathy for the less fortunate. Paint the team logo on her face and let her scream for the team...what's it gonna hurt?

 

[hornadylnl]

What? Did you read the same article I did?

If they were the litigous type, don't you think they would have sued the first time she didn't make the squad?

 

[Expat]

What? Did you read the same article I did?

Yeah I did, she and her family have retained an attorney who has put the school district on notice of the intent to file an ADA suit. Additionally they have gotten the ACLU involved as well.

I also read an article in the NY Times from a year and a half ago. She never mentioned the issue of cheerleading in that article.

 

[Bill B]

The article didn't say if it was a competitive cheer team or just an "on the sidelines" cheerleading squad.
If the latter, let her cheer and shout. When my kids were in high school there was a wheelchair-bound student that was a cheerleader, nobody showed more enthusiasm than she did.

 

[edsinger]

Yeah I did, she and her family have retained an attorney who has put the school district on notice of the intent to file an ADA suit. Additionally they have gotten the ACLU involved as well.

I also read an article in the NY Times from a year and a half ago. She never mentioned the issue of cheerleading in that article.

Good Article, but if you read the OP, they did not want to get a lawyer. I don't think we all have the full story of this but from reading your article, I am even more in favor of her being allowed to cheer for her team.

 

[Hanu]

We have some - as my wife prefers I say, "challenged" students in the school system that are team members, student managers, etc... Everyone knows that they are only going to participate for a minute of the game (actually less in game clock time) but it gives the student a sense of belonging and, i think more importantly, gives the "normal" kids an appreciation for both their God given talent as well as a little empathy for the less fortunate. Paint the team logo on her face and let her scream for the team...what's it gonna hurt?

A while back there was video on the news of a high school basketball game where they had allowed the team manager who was autistic into the game for the last few minutes. He scored 20 points. I imagine they were sorry that they only let him pass out the water for the years he was team manager.

 

[JCAJR30]

A while back there was video on the news of a high school basketball game where they had allowed the team manager who was autistic into the game for the last few minutes. He scored 20 points. I imagine they were sorry that they only let him pass out the water for the years he was team manager.

I saw that news video, yeah he was something.

Not to mention all the hollywood depictions of this scenerio over the years. Our school only has maybe 120-150 students per grade and we have both a competitive "show choir" who sings and dances at the more prominent school activities, then we also have the standard cheerleaders who are at every game. There's room for one more on the team - it's not like the school has to pay for her uniform, travel, whatever - that's all out of the parent's pocket.

 

[Benny]

A while back there was video on the news of a high school basketball game where they had allowed the team manager who was autistic into the game for the last few minutes. He scored 20 points. I imagine they were sorry that they only let him pass out the water for the years he was team manager.

Yeah, I think I heard about that somewhere.

It looks like this school needs to take a page out of Greece Athena HS's book and show even the slightest bit of compassion.

Autistic Teen's Hoop Dreams Come True - CBS News

 

[kludge]

Like it or not it would be a MAJOR safety issue on the side of a high school basketball court.

Otherwise, go to the tryouts and go for it.