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Blazing new trail
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Atholton senior and wheelchair athlete Tatyana McFadden has won races against some of the best competition in the world, but her most recent victory came away from the track.
McFadden’s testimony in front of the General Assembly was pivotal in it unanimously passing a bill that requires schools to provide disabled students with access to high school sports teams, either among themselves or with able-bodied students.
“This whole journey has been a little bit of a bumpy ride,” she said. “But at the end of the day, look what happened.”
The bill, which takes effect in July, is called “Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities.” Under the legislation, schools have three years to comply, and it will cost an estimated $2.8 million for schools to implement the program.
Starting this summer, local districts must submit their plans to the state’s education department. The education department is in charge of investigating complaints and can suspend teams or withhold money from school systems that fail to comply.
“It’s not just what it means for us, but lots of people,” Deborah McFadden, Tatyana’s mother, said. “It’s the equivalent to the beginning of Title IX. It’s a landmark legislation. Maryland is the first state to do it, and I believe others will follow.”
Tatyana McFadden, who was born with spina bifida, a congenital defect in the spinal column that left her paralyzed from the waist down, has had an outstanding career. She won a pair of gold medals at the U.S. Paralympic National Track & Field Championships in the 200-and 800-meter dashes last summer. McFadden also has succeeded on the international stage, winning a silver medal in the 100-meter dash and a bronze in the 200-meter dash at the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
But for McFadden, 18, who will accept an athletic scholarship to compete for either Alabama or Illinois next season, the win in Annapolis wasn’t about her — it was about who comes after her.
“There will always be people opposed to it and comments make me sad, but I can’t focus on the negative,” she said. “I am trying to do a good thing and open doors for others and getting the bill passes is bigger than those comments because the bill will never be taken away and stay there forever.”
dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:32 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Blazing new trail"
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Examiner Reader said:
My son plays on a competitive wheelchair basketball team. All we have asked for is that the school district consider his team as an off campus PE credit. Currently they count his absences unexcused when he travels with his team for meets and refuse to count his team as even a PE credit. They have very strict stipulations that not all adaptive teams can meet. I don't expect my son to play on the same court as able bodied atheletes however, I expect the school to think outside the box and put reasonable expectations of teams in place for people with disabilties. My son has been left out of events and functions way too long. It's not all about small town bickering. It's also about living your dream to play sports and getting through school. It's about acceptance by your nondisabled peers as an athlete. It's about acceptance from staff and teachers and not to be merely looked at as someone who can get a 'real athlete' a water bottle or a sweatrag. Thank you Tatyana!
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Examiner Reader said:
This is a very difficult situation. My suggestion for the young athlete is to become involved in wheelchair sports within her community. You may have a chance to compete in the Paralympics and break some world records. This would be very rewarding and a sense of accomplishment without all the turmoil you are currently experiencing. I would let it go and move on to bigger and better things. Rise above the pettiness. The camaraderie in the wheelchair community is untouchable. Compete with peers in your same situation and class on a world level. You have an opportunity to compete on a global level that your peers will never experience. Go for the GOLD and forget small town bickering. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
27 agree | 29 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There are wheelchair races in the state meet, score the wheelers against each other. I do not favor including her in a race against runners because quite frankly: -It is not the same thing. Wheelchair racing on a track is not running. The McFaddens need to recognize this. -There are safety considerations for both wheelers and runners (although in this case it is more likely for a runner to be injured by a wheeler). -The wheeler in question seems unable to not impede other runners. She has made a big deal that she has not been accepted by the Atholton team, however, remember the 2006 state meet instead of "running" her race she hung on teammate Alli Smith and interfered with other runners. As a result Smith was denied a state title in the mile (would have given her team the win) several young women were perhaps denied a PR. -It isn't all about Tatyana. Hope she enjoys her 15 months of fame. She and her mother have manipulated the media and the courts long enough.
38 agree | 41 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Participation does not necessarily mean points. In other states the wheelchair athlete has to beat a national qualifying standard set by wheelchair sports USA to earn points. You don't beat the time you don't score points. Why would you award a fraction of a point? Would the judge render a fraction of a decision. Evidently Mr Schoen never participated in athletics. In basketball, baseball, track, swimming, etc. everything is decided by points. Tell the participants in championship game you will not score their game or determine a winner. Take heart it's the sum of the experience that matters. I'm certain Mr. Schoen has someone he knows that participates in athletic competition. Ask them how they would feel if their performance counted for nothing more than just an exhibition. Gary Moore Concord, NC
52 agree | 46 disagree
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