ROCKVILLE, Md., July 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athletics for All, a task force composed of national disability sport organizations working together to include students with disabilities in high school sports, will take part in the Department of Education's 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Friday, July 24, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The celebration will take place at the U.S. Department of Education Lyndon Baines Johnson Building located at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202.
Opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities to experience adaptive sports activities including wheelchair basketball, boccia and track and field will be available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The sports activities will be hosted by Athletics for All task force members including Disabled Sports USA, Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports USA, American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Bridge II Sports and Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, U.S. Paralympic medalist.
"We are excited to be a part of the event to celebrate the advancements in equal access. Every person, regardless of ability, should have an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation. Athletics for All envisions an educational system that provides equal opportunity for student athletes with disabilities to experience the physical, mental and emotional benefits of interscholastic sports," said Kirk M. Bauer, J.D., Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran.
Athletics for All has developed tools for coaches, athletic directors and school administrators to integrate students with physical disabilities in interscholastic high school sports in their respective states. Tools include introductory adapted sport guidelines, coach's training through community sports partners and access to adaptive sport equipment and resources.
"Participation in sports and athletic activities is important for every child and adult, regardless of whether he or she has a disability. In years past, there was the old perception that persons with disabilities could not participate as others did. Thanks to all of the work that various organizations like Athletics for All have done in the field, those old ways of thinking have now begun to change and change for the better. This is the spirit of integration. It is the heart and soul of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)," said Ollie Cantos, Esq., Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education. Within the Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights, led by Assistant Secretary Catherine E. Lhamon, enforces ADA Title II and provides technical assistance to schools, colleges, and universities.
Indoor panels from 9a.m. to 10:20a.m. will be hosted by Michael Yudin, Assistant Secretary for Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Andrew Imparato, Executive Director of Association for University Centers on Disabilities and Catherine Lhamon , Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. The youth panel will be moderated by Janet LaBreck, Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner and will include accomplished athlete and six-time National Champion in wheelchair racing and archery, Casey Followay of Ohio. A brief outdoor ceremony will be keynoted by Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education followed by remarks by Terri Lakowski, Chief Executive Officer, Active Policy Solutions, and member of Athletics for All.
"Two years ago the Office for Civil Rights issued landmark guidance on the right of students with disabilities to have access to school sports opportunities. The special inclusion of sports as part of the ADA Anniversary event signifies just how critical sports are to the lives of youth with disabilities, and I am honored to be part of the celebration" said Terri Lakowski.
This event is open to the public. To RSVP, please click here.
About Athletics for All
The Athletics for All task force is composed of national and regional disability sport organizations that are working together to promote and facilitate inclusion of students with disabilities in sports. The task force provides tools for coaches, athletic directors and school administrators to integrate students with physical disabilities in interscholastic high school sports. To access the adapted sport guidelines and other material available or learn more about Athletics for All, visit www.athleticsforall.net.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34379
