January 2006 Capital District Roundtable

Scouting with Disabilities

Chris D Garvin Roundtable Commissioner

OUTLINE

Introduction Merit Badges Teacher’s Guide Sources Questions

Featured Link: http://netcommish.com/

Dedication: This website is dedicated to the thousands of dedicated Scouters who call themselves Commissioners and give of their time and talents to help Scout Leaders deliver the best possible Scouting Program to youth members and to the Scout leaders they serve.

It's A Tough Job: Being a commissioner is not an easy job and frequently a pretty misunderstood job. We all know about the stereotypes of a chubby, coffee mug clutching, badge-bedecked commissioner who doesn't seem to do very much. But is this really so? What does a commissioner really do? How can he/she do it better? Here you will find the answers to those questions along with many resources that are designed especially for commissioners, but can also be used by all Scouters. Learn more about resources available at The NetCommish Website

Looking for an example of how a Commissioner can help? Here's a great example from a Council newsletter that is now also a regular feature of the NetCommish. It is a Commissioner's column called "Ask Andy" that gives Scouters great, helpful advice. Andy writes "Got a question? Send it to me at AskAndyBSA@yahoo.com -be sure to let me know your Scouting position, town, state, and council!"  Want to reprint a column or part of a column in your Council newsletter?  Write to AskAndyBSA@yahoo.com. Link to this website by using the URL - http://netcommish.com Link to Ask Andy with a specific URL - http://netcommish.com/AskAndy.asp

Introduction

“The Boy Scouts of America encourages youth with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities to become fully participating members in the Scouting movement. “

Background Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of

America has had fully participating members with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

Dr. James E. West, the first Chief Scout Executive, was himself disabled.

Although most of the BSA's efforts have been directed at keeping such boys in the mainstream of Scouting, it has also recognized the special needs of those with severe disabilities.

Background The Boy Scout Handbook has had Braille

editions for many years. Merit badge pamphlets have been recorded

on cassette tapes for blind Scouts. Closed-caption training videos have been

produced for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. In 1965, registration of over-age Scouts who

are mentally retarded became possible.

Background

Today, approximately 100,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Ventures with disabilities are registered with the Boy Scouts of America in more than 4,000 units chartered to community organizations.

Merit Badges

Merit Badges Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge

Personal Development Merit Badge Group Source

www.meritbadge.com/home.htm Learning Worksheet Test Your Knowledge

Teacher’s Guide

Definitions DISABILITIES

Follow these guidelines when referring to people with physical disabilities:

Disabled. A general term used for a physical or cognitive condition that substantially limits one or more of the major daily life activities. Avoid the use of "the disabled" to describe disabled people as a group.

Handicapped. Avoid this term in describing a disability or a person who is disabled.

Blind. Describes a person with complete loss of sight. For others, use terms such as "visually impaired" or "person with low vision."

Deaf. Describes a person with total hearing loss. For others, use "partial hearing loss," "hearing impaired," or "partially deaf." Avoid the term "deaf mute"; do not use "deaf and dumb."

Wheelchair-user. A person who uses a wheelchair for independent mobility. Do not use "confined to a wheelchair" or "wheelchair-bound."

Disabilities Types

Physical Blindness, Deafness, Limb Deformity, Muscular Atrophy

Emotional ADD, ADHD

Mental Speech

Medical Diabetes, Epilepsy, Downs, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular

Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Heart Defect

Needs Basic Premise

They want to participate like other youth Scouting gives them that opportunity

Program Directed at helping leaders develop an

awareness of disabled people among those without a disability

Encourage the inclusion of Scouts with disabilities and special needs in Scouting

Needs

Units composed of members with similar disabilities & special needs are encouraged to participate in Scouting activities at all levels.

Many of these units are located in special schools or centers that make the Scouting program part of their curriculum

Needs Many councils have established their own

advisory committees. Develop and coordinate an effective Scouting

program. Use all available community resources

Provide accessibility to local camps Remove physical barriers Provide professional staff members as escorts

Advancement BSA policy

Scouts with disabilities & special needs participate in the same program as their peers.

Treat members with disabilities & special needs as much like other members as possible, but may make advancement accommodations if necessary.

Alternate Merit Badges Alternate Rank Requirements

Substitute should provide “a similar learning experience.”

Advancement Guidelines & Explanations

Local Councils direction Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Rank Merit

Badges, No. 58-730. Local Council Advancement committee must approve

May also request changes in the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Ranks

Boy Scout Requirements 2005, No 33215A Keep the Scout in the mainstream

Allow additional time, special aids, and alternatives The Unit Leader is crucial.

Program Developments Local Councils

Formed cooperative relationships with agencies, schools and organizations serving disabled people.

Cooperative Agencies Literature Audiovisual aids Braille media

Awards BSA: Woods Service Award (National)

To an adult who has demonstrated exceptional service and leadership in the field of Scouting for disabled people.

BSA: The Torch of Gold Award (Council)

Program Developments National Support Projects

National Camping School Syllabi Special Manual Production

Emotional, physical & learning disabilities, visual impairment, mental retardation and deafness

Philmont Training Center: 1 week training course 1977: First handicap awareness trail incorporated

into the Moraine State Park National Scout Jamboree

Handicamporees: Camping and Outdoor Activities for youth with disabilities

Local Support Community Partnerships of Idaho Co Ad Inc (Comprehensive Advocacy) Easter Seals/Goodwill ID Task Force on the Americans with Disabilities Act Special Olympics Tomorrow’s Hope Inc Transitions Development Center United Cerebral Palsy Unity Service Coordination National Federation of the Blind in Idaho

Discussion Do Scout Leaders have the responsibility to

accommodate all youth requesting entrance into the program?

Are Units responsible to adhere to directives of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

What accommodations can we make with a _____ Scout?

What are some examples of accommodations Units are able to make for Scouts with disabilities?

If a Unit has a Scout with a physical disability (wheelchair user), do all planned events have to be accessible?

Sources

Sources Working with Scouts with Disabilities: Marin Council, BSA

http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/wwswd/ Serving Youth with Disabilities and Special Needs: Heart of Ohio

Councilhttp://www.bsa-heartofohio.org/CurrentEvents/serving_youth_with_disabilities_.htm

Scouts with Disabilities and Special Needs: Boy Scouts of America

http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-508.html Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic: (enter SCOUT in the search form)

http://www.rfbd.org/ American printing House for the Blind

http://www.aph.org/louis.htm

Sources Information for Leaders Who Serve Scouts With

Disabilities The four-page pamphlet "Scouting Resources for Serving Youth

With Disabilities" (No. 89-120) lists the wide variety of BSA materials available for council, district, and unit leaders. Included are such titles as:

For Council and District Scouters Scouting for Youth With Mental Retardation (BSA Supply No.

33059A) Scouting for Youth With Physical Disabilities (Supply No. 33057B) Scouting for Youth With Emotional Disabilities (No. 32998A) Scouting for the Hearing Impaired (No. 33061A) Scouting for the Blind and Visually Impaired (No. 33063B) Scouting for Youth With Learning Disabilities (No. 33065A)

Sources Torch of Gold Certificate—for local council use in recognizing

adults for outstanding service to youth with disabilities (No. 33733)

Woods Services Award—for council to nominate one person for the national award (No. 89-258)

Council Advisory Committee on Youth With Disabilities (No. 89-239A)

For Cub Scout Packs Understanding Cub Scouts With Disabilities (No. 33839)

For Boy Scout Troops A Scoutmaster's Guide to Working With Scouts With

Disabilities (No. 33056) Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge Pamphlet (No. 33370)

January 2006 Capital District Roundtable

QUESTIONS?

Capital District Roundtable

Chris D Garvin cdgarvin@yahoo.com (Home) 890-9537 (Cell) 890-3222

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