March 26, 2008
posted 3/26/2008 10:28 PM

I can't slam-dunk a basketball, but I can play
We're in the middle of March Madness, so I'm compelled to apply a basketball analogy to some thoughts that have been on my mind. Coincidentally, it just so happens that March is also a big month for annual CSE meetings and tax preparation. Fortunately there is lots of great basketball in March, but seriously, CSE meetings are not nearly as painful as tax preparation.

As I prepared for this year's IEP review, I tried to focus on what can be done, instead of what can't be done. I read lots of disability success stories and there seems to be a common theme around focusing on what can be done. For example, I cannot slam-dunk a basketball, at least not in the high school gym with regulation nets. What I can do is play basketball at probably what is considered a rudimentary skills level. Technically speaking, I could slam-dunk a basketball with supports such as a mini-tramp or by lowering the hoop, but that wouldn't allow me to compete in a serious pick-up game on a regulation court. So given this physical skill gap, should I stay off the basketball court? Absolutely not, because if I want the thrill of slam-dunking a basketball, I'd ask for special adaptive supports. Most likely however, basketball is a team sport and if I focus on what I can do, such as shooting jump shots, I can continue to practice and develop my skills to the level that my passion and birth-given cognitive and physical attributes will allow. Now my dribbling is rough and I can't catch too well, so I may not play in a serious adult pick-up game, but I can play in a friendly driveway game with family or friends at a summer picnic. So as we conclude our annual IEP meetings, we should all continue to focus on what our child can do, what supports are required to help them with their delays, and realize there will be cognitive and academic differences among all children, but we cultivate what can be done while we challenge to find the boundaries of what can't be done. So what do I miss in life because I cannot slamdunk a basketball? Nothing if I enjoy the richness of what I can do while I press myself hard to often try those things I can't. This will allow me to find the right balance as I find my satisfying and successful path through life. So in conclusion, let's help our children challenge themselves across all the requirements they will face in their grade-school years. We should never be afraid to encourage them not to try because how would Kyle Maynard have wrestled in college with his shorten limb disability if he didn't try? We should also support our children though persistent practice with things they can do, but maybe not to the level of high achieving peer because it's required, but we can find the right fit with essential learnings to build success with what can be done. Finally, we help them find and capitalize on those things they can do really well and we celebrate in those successes to build their self-esteem. Our public schools are faced with the dilemma of producing high achievers to compete in the global marketplace, while balancing individual learning needs and styles. One of my favorite TV commercials this time of the year is the NCAA tagline that there are 380,000 student athletes and everyone of them will go pro in something other than sports. It helps me remember that there are 4,000 students at Victor Central School and everyone of them CAN be successful. We are preparing them all to go pro in a variety of secondary pursuits and careers. Let's continue to be careful that we can work together to support the individuality of needs as we organize collectively as one school community.

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