1. Working With Scouts With disAbilities Steve Eisinger RHD Roundtable March 16, 2006

2. disAbility Awareness What does “disability” mean to you? disAbilities = different abilities We all have them!

3. 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!

4. 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.”

5. ADVANCEMENT What requirements must be met? When/what can requirements be waived? What requirements can me modified?

6. 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

7. What can be waived? Age limits T-2-1 swimming requirements –where health risk is involved

8. 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

9. 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)….

10. Working MBs With Scouts With Disabilities ….suggest appropriate alternative, which must be approved by Council Advancement Committee. Possible alternatives listed on Form 58-730

11. Resources The boy’s parent(s) The boy’s teacher(s) – special education? Google BSA publications

12. A Scoutmaster’s Guide to Working with Scouts with Disabilities. Boy Scouts of America, © 2002 #33056A

13. Scouting for Youth with Physical Disabilities Boy Scouts of America, © 1971, 1996 printing #33057C

14. Scouting for the Hearing Impaired Boy Scouts of America, © 1999 #33061A

15. Scouting for Youth with Mental Retardation Boy Scouts of America, ©1975, 1995 printing #33059B

16. Scouting for Youth with Learning Disabilities Boy Scouts of America, © 2001 #33065A

17. 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

18. Thank you!