Working With Scouts With disAbilities

Steve Eisinger

RHD Roundtable

March 16, 2006

disAbility Awareness

What does “disability” mean to you?

•disAbilities = different abilities

•We all have them!

How do you treat a person who has a

disability?

• They just have “different” abilities…

• Focus on strengths• Don’t be embarrassed about

asking to help

• …like a person!

ADA definition of disability   

“Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.”

ADVANCEMENT

• What requirements must be met?

• When/what can requirements be waived?

• What requirements can me modified?

What requirements must be met?

• All rank advancement requirements must be met

• All merit badge requirements must be met• Specific requirements documenting the

Scout’s disability must be met– Must be permanent disability– Substantiated by physician’s statement OR

certified by an educational administrator

What can be waived?

• Age limits

• T-2-1 swimming requirements– where health risk is involved

What can be modified?

• T-2-1 requirement that Scout is unable to physically or mentally meet

• Alternative requirement must be “as challenging” to the Scout

• Alternative requirement developed by SM, with help from family, professionals, other Scouters

• Use ISAP to document and get approval by Council Advancement Committee

Working MBs With Scouts With Disabilities

• Scout must accomplish the requirements – Counselor cannot waive requirements!

• Find out the Scout’s strength/weakness• There’s more than one way to accomplish

the requirements – play to the Scout’s strengths.

• For Eagle-required MB, if Scout still cannot accomplish the requirement(s)….

Working MBs With Scouts With Disabilities

• ….suggest appropriate alternative, which must be approved by Council Advancement Committee.

• Possible alternatives listed on Form 58-730

Resources

• The boy’s parent(s)• The boy’s teacher(s) – special education?• Google• BSA publications

A Scoutmaster’s Guide to Working with Scouts with Disabilities.

Boy Scouts of America, © 2002

#33056A

Scouting for Youth with Physical Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 1971, 1996 printing

#33057C

Scouting for the Hearing Impaired

Boy Scouts of America, © 1999

#33061A

Scouting for Youth with Mental Retardation

Boy Scouts of America, ©1975, 1995 printing

#33059B

Scouting for Youth with Learning Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 2001

#33065A

Scouting for Youth with Emotional Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 1994

#33008

Scouting for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Boy Scouts of America, © 1974, 1994 printing

#33063C

Thank you!