Utilizing the Virtual Communication Sport-delivery Model to Promote Extracurricular Athletics for Students with Disabilities

Abstract

In 2010, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) reevaluated the status of Public Law 93-112, Sec 504, which protects against discrimination solely based on someone's disability. Recommendations and findings were reported to school districts around the country in a document called the Dear Colleague Letter of 2013. The GAO identified several factors that limited opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in physical education and athletics, and produced several recommendations for school districts. One in particular stated that schools should consider offering separate or different athletic opportunities if reasonable accommodations were not providing effective participation of students with disabilities. However, constraints such as budget, logistics, coaches and facilities have affected these opportunities. This article features a creative sport delivery model — virtual communication — to address these constraints. This delivery option can be implemented across great geographical distances between several schools without the concern of travel, logistics or loss of time. Read how adapted physical educators developed and implemented a sport competition for Boccia across six different middle schools using virtual communication, thus providing a different athletic opportunity for students and at the same time addressing the recommendations identified in the Dear Colleague Letter.