I believe that academics are extremely important and should be provided to all individuals. I also fee the same about extracurricular activities, which I believe are just as significant. This includes playing music, acting in a play, joining a team, etc. How does academics and athletics have anything to do with one another? Many people would question this, however I can argue that being a student as well as an athlete are both just as important, as anyone else would say if they were in the band or something similar. Being a student-athlete I have learned discipline, hard work, acceptance, having to deal with adversity, dedication, determination, team work, and a multitude of other things. As far as my education goes, I would agree that I have learned these things by it, in different ways. Although different, they both are able to provide individuals with endless amounts of life lessons and information. This is why I strongly believe that just like education, athletics should be provided to all individuals with a disability or not.
Having learned that an education is something individuals with disabilities have had to fight for, for some years now, it is amazing to notice that there are still more actions being taken to help individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity. Through the IDEA we learned that the act "provides free and appropriate public education to children and youth with specific disabilities" (Gargiulo, 60). Diving deeper into Civil Rights Legislation we also learned that more actions were taken as we read about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This act, being the first in public law, "was specifically aimed at protecting children and adults against discrimination due to a disability" (Gargiulo, 59). No individual would be excluded, "solely because of his or her disability, from taking part or benefiting from any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, which included schools" (Gargiulo, 59).
While searching for an article, I found that action towards further inclusion is being taken. And although it is not through academics it is something to take notice of. On June 19th Governor Christie of New Jersey signed a bill that will provide students with disabilities equal access to athletics. To me this seems pretty noteworthy, considering I did not know athletics were not being provided to everyone equally. Something we often take for granted, like education and athletics, others are having to fight for.
Having learned that an education is something individuals with disabilities have had to fight for, for some years now, it is amazing to notice that there are still more actions being taken to help individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity. Through the IDEA we learned that the act "provides free and appropriate public education to children and youth with specific disabilities" (Gargiulo, 60). Diving deeper into Civil Rights Legislation we also learned that more actions were taken as we read about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This act, being the first in public law, "was specifically aimed at protecting children and adults against discrimination due to a disability" (Gargiulo, 59). No individual would be excluded, "solely because of his or her disability, from taking part or benefiting from any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, which included schools" (Gargiulo, 59).
While searching for an article, I found that action towards further inclusion is being taken. And although it is not through academics it is something to take notice of. On June 19th Governor Christie of New Jersey signed a bill that will provide students with disabilities equal access to athletics. To me this seems pretty noteworthy, considering I did not know athletics were not being provided to everyone equally. Something we often take for granted, like education and athletics, others are having to fight for.
Photo Credits to Tyson Trish /
staff photographer from NorthJersey.com
staff photographer from NorthJersey.com
“Everybody should have the opportunity to experience the things that I experienced as a young man in this state and that my sons and daughters are experiencing in this state." -Governor Christie