[Nfbc-info] Fw: Athletic Equity Law

[Bryan Bashin]

LM,

Thanks for forwarding this along.  I'd like to 
know just what the proposed law would look like, 
and though the material you sent made reference 
to the Maryland law, I didn't see a copy of it in 
the message.  Can you forward the list a copy of 
what we're being asked to support?

Thanks,

Bryan


At 08:58 AM 11/16/2008, you wrote:
>Good Morning,
>
>The email below comes from an athlete who took 
>gold in Beijing with her goalball team. I do 
>believe we passed a resolution to begin 
>communicating with the powers-at-be and to 
>proceed in equalizing the playing field for 
>disabled, particularly blind, athletes.
>
>Lisamaria
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Jessie Lorenz
>To: jessie Lorenz
>Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 3:35 AM
>Subject: Athletic Equity Law
>
>
>Hello, I am sending this email to you because 
>you were a part of helping to make my dream of a 
>Paralympic gold medal a reality. Thank you for your support
>on this journey.  I know that you understand the 
>positive role sports can play in ones life- for I am living proof of this.
>
>Because I am committed to ensure that the young 
>girl who comes after me has the same 
>opportunities to participate in sports that I had I  recently joined
>a coalition of advocates spearheading The 
>California Athletic Equity Law. This is a  piece 
>of state  legislation that would dramatically increase  the
>number of opportunities for students with 
>disabilities to participate in sports.
>
>To learn more or to get involved you can go to:
>
>www.titleix2.org
>
>I have attached some information on the 
>legislation to this message and have pasted the 
>text of an introductory cover letter below. Please don't hesitate
>to contact me should you have any questions or 
>if you'd like to see the proposed text of the 
>bill. We are courting the legislature and would welcome suggestions
>on individuals who may be willing to take the 
>lead and author the bill in either the state assembly or the senate.
>
>Some on this distribution list are not from 
>California- it is still important to be aware of 
>what we're doing out here- so you can learn from our mistakes
>and our best practices.
>
>  All students with disabilities deserve the 
> chance to participate in competitive sport.
>
>Please join me in spreading the word about this important effort.
>
>In sport,
>
>Jessie Lorenz
>
>"Only those who will risk going too far can 
>possibly find out how far one can go."
>
>T. S. Elliot
>
>(Begin coverletter)
>
>California Athletics Equity Law for Students with Disabilities
>
>Dear Friends and Colleagues,
>
>We are asking you to join us in our efforts to 
>create the California Athletics Equity Law for 
>Students with Disabilities.  We are a group of disabled athletes,
>parents, coaches, educators and friends.
>
>Our goal is to create system change by promoting 
>legislation in California to ensure that youth 
>with disabilities receive the benefits that come from equal
>access to school physical education and athletic 
>programs. This law then could be used as a national model.
>
>The benefits of youth participating in school 
>sports programs are well documented. Grade-point 
>averages, attendance rates, and graduation rates are higher
>for student-athletes, while discipline referrals 
>and dropout rates are lower.  Participating in 
>sports helps to teach the value of hard work, goal setting,
>communication and teamwork.  Additionally, 
>participating in sports helps to establish healthy life style habits.
>
>Unfortunately, the opportunity for students with 
>disabilities to participate in their schools 
>interscholastic sports programs does not exist in California.
>Presently, a limited number of kids with 
>disabilities get access to sports through 
>community-based organizations in a few locations in California.  These
>organizations offer exciting and challenging 
>athletic opportunities, but operate outside of 
>the school system and can serve only a fraction of the disabled
>population.
>
>It is now time to guarantee that all California 
>school children with disabilities receive the 
>same benefits of school sports programs as their non-disabled
>peers.  This April, the state of Maryland passed 
>the legislation that we are working on, the 
>first of it’s kind in the country.  Similar efforts are taking
>place throughout the country.  Our plan is to 
>build a coalition of support and in the fall of 
>2008 identify a California legislator to author our bill
>for the 2009 session.
>
>This historic change will not take place unless 
>those of us in the disabled sports movement take 
>a leadership role in this effort. We need help with every
>aspect of this effort, from hosting 
>informational get-togethers, recruiting 
>supporters, contacting legislators, testifying at legislative hearings and
>contributing financially to support this 
>effort.  Enclosed you will find a draft of the 
>legislation, an information page and a sign-up form.
>
>Together, we can help bring about this historic change.
>
>Signed,
>
>table with 3 columns and 15 rows
>Rick Spittler,
>
>Cheri Blauwet,
>
>Tim Orr,
>
>Director, Title IX2
>
>2008 Paralympic Athlete, Medical Student
>
>USA National Junior Track & Field and Basketball Coach: 1989-2005
>
>Jessica Lorenz,
>
>Chris Finn,
>
>Jon Newman
>
>2008 Paralymic Gold Medelist
>
>Head Coach, USA Power Soccer
>
>US Power Soccer Association, Western Regional Director
>
>Dr. Barry Lavay,
>
>Richie Bennett,
>
>Jen Howitt
>
>CSU, Long Beach,
>
>Kinesiology Department
>
>Coach, BORP Bay Cruisers
>
>Wheelchair Basketball
>
>Paralympic Athlete, Rhodes Scholar
>
>Lisa Hilborn,
>
>Trooper Johnson,
>
>Susan Henderson,
>
>Rancho Wheelchair Sports Director
>
>Paralympic Athlete, BORP Youth Sports Coordinator
>
>Executive Director, Disability Education Rights and Defense Fund
>
>Tersesa Favuzzi,
>
>Adam Elix,
>
>Doug Garner,
>
>Executive Director, California Foundation For Independent Living Centers
>
>Therapeutic Specialist, City of San Jose
>
>National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Junior Division Commissioner
>
>Dmitri Belser,
>
>President, Ed Roberts Campus
>table end
>
>
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