HIGH SCHOOLS
Disabled Athletes to Get Equal Opportunities in Md.
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The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill Monday night that will require county boards of education to allow students with disabilities to have equal opportunities to participate in physical education programs and on mainstream athletic teams.
The Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Act came about in part because of Tatyana McFadden, 18, a wheelchair athlete from Atholton High in Howard County. During her high school track career McFadden has fought, twice in court, for inclusion in races and for the right to have wheelchair races count in the team standings.
"We've had a couple of rough bumps with the state, but I was just very, very, very relieved that in the end it finally came down to this," said McFadden, a senior who had lobbied in Annapolis on the bill's behalf. "We've been fighting so long and so hard for this. People should have the same opportunities. They shouldn't be denied."
McFadden, born with spina bifida, is training for the 2008 Paralympics, which will take place in Beijing in September. She won two medals at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.
"This will forever change the landscape of opportunity for disabled students," said Deborah McFadden, Tatyana's mother. "For me, it's the same thing as rights for women and people of color."
McFadden has another daughter, Hannah, 12, who is an amputee. Hannah McFadden swims and plays tennis.
Maryland school systems will have three years to implement policies and procedures for accommodating athletes with disabilities. The legislation goes into effect July 1.
"The bill takes what was promised under federal law for over 30 years and puts some meat on those bones," said Lauren Young, director of litigation for the Maryland Disability Law Center. "We have these programs in schools because of the benefits they provide to all students."
-- Preston Williams
