Salem, Oregon. (KPTV) – A secondary school in Oregon won a price Tuesday for its commitment to provide inclusive sports programs to students of all capacities.
Tuesday was an exciting day at West Salem High School, starting with a basketball match with students of all capacity on the field. The school was also recognized by ESPN for its commitment to inclusion in sports.
Lori Anderson, EP teacher at West Salem, says that for them, inclusion means having children with students of all capacities engaging in sports or participating in the PE class together.
This requires making changes to the equipment they use. For example, the use of bullets that make noise or that have a certain texture so that the disabled students know when a ball is at stake.
But they say that even their students in a wheelchair are motivated to use regulatory hoops. And this is awarded to their programs which give students with disabilities the possibility of practicing sports at the same level as any other student.
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Jean Hansen, vice-president of school partnerships with the special Olympic Games, says that it is not only disabled students who benefit from this program. The community, as a whole, also benefits.
“It means they have the opportunity to show how an athlete they are. For many of them, it is the first time that they may have had the opportunity to present their skills, “said Hansen. “The impact on our partners, our student without disabilities, because they draw as much as the disabled students. This begins to create these friendships and consciousness. »»
To mark the special occasion, in addition to the basketball match, they also hang up a large banner in the gymnasium to recognize success.
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