Disabilities - Challenges and Opportunities

Yes, we have an agenda!! Read on and help us out......

_________________________


Challenges and Opportunities - I, A Web Site

As I have expressed before on Scouts-L, BSA has materials supporting the
serving of Scouts with Disabilities. Some of these need updating or expanding,
but the greatest concern is that the availability of Scouting for persons (both
youth and adults) has limited exposure, is misunderstood, and is an untapped
resource for Scouting*s growth and meaning.

At the end of July, into August, 1998, 23 of us met in conference at PhilmontUs
Training Center to help chart a course of action which we hope can be embraced
by BSA down to the smallest of units. Our conference follows upon one of the
previous year, the promise of which is still in progress. We are all
activists. We welcome your comments, aid, and support.

So as not to clog up the bandwidth I, and my Co-Webmaster, will welcome your
individual and private comments; consolidate them; and make them available in a
coordinated fashion.

Yes, I did use the word Webmaster. Our initial discussions with BSA officials
suggested that a site on ScoutNET might be six years away. Our goal is within
the first quarter of 1999. Right now, it is likely a major corporation will
host our site, with hopes that once successfully demonstrated BSA will adopt
it.

Later on I will list some of the topics and linkages we plan on incorporating.
We look forward to your contributions and suggestions.

<amei@marin.k12.ca.us>
<jay.thal@tcs.wap.org>

Challenges and Opportunities - II, Philmont,
A Disabilities Awareness Challenge Trek Site

Our 1997 colleagues first designed and proposed a Disability Awareness
Challenge Trek Site for Philmont. It is our feeling that if we can develop one
for Philmont it can be emulated elsewhere. Of course, Philmont can customize a
Trek now, but we wish to go beyond that. One of our participants, who is
blind, did a full Trek in his youth.

We are scheduled to present the concept to the Philmont Ranch Committee in
April 1999. The initial design concept is to expand one of the existing
Staffed Camps to include experiential subsites radiating from the hub with a
wheelchair/ATV and a parallel conventional trail for those with other than
mobility impairments.

We believe that such a Site can do do several things:
* Provide a full and legitimate High Adventure experience for
Scouts
and Scouters with impairments, but a desire;
* Provide an alternative for Scouts and Scouters injured during a
Trek
to complete their Philmont experience; and,
* Provide a Site through which may pass crews who may experience,
and
partner with, Scouts with disabilities and participate in
Challenging
activities.

Such a concept will not come cheap. Some of us have started the networking
process to find advisors, mentors, funding and equipment suppliers, and
construction partners. We enlist your commitment, support and skills. All
this before April 1999

<amei@marin.k12.ca.us> <jay.thal@tcs.wap.org>

Challenges and Opportunities - III Disabilities Website Topics and Linkages
[Subject to YOUR modification and expansion]

* CONTINUUM - A clearly defined path from Tiger Cub, Cub, Boy Scout,
Venturer and Learning for Life.

* SCOUTING RESOURCES - BSA and GSUSA publications and training.

EXTERNAL RESOURCES - Corporate and private support and funding.

* COUNCIL/DISTRICT SUPPORTS - Mission Statements, job descriptions,
basic training, roundtables, Woodbadge, newsletters.

* COUNCIL EXPERIENCES - What has worked elsewhere. Mainstreaming
and segregated models.

* REACHING OUT - Grassroots recruiting: Youth, Parents, Mentors,
Teachers,
Professionals. Establishing partnerships: Hospitals, Schools,

Alpha Phi Omega, Best Buddies, etc.

* THE YOUTH (Boy or Girl) - Developing Individualized Scouting
Advancement Programs (ISAP); Success Stories.

* LEADERSHIP - Training and involvement, but also retaining and gaining
from the experiences of leaders with disabilities.

* EXPERIENTIAL GAMES - Disability awareness for all Scouts. Team
building,
communications skills. Challenge sites for Camporees, etc.
Service
projects.

* ESTABLISHED OPPORTUNITIES - National Park Service GOLDEN ACCESS
Program; accessible Federal and State Parks and facilities;
etc.

* MOVING BSA - Supply Division should include disability related
materials in its catalog (write them). Philmont Disability
Challenge Trek Site
(movement and funding). Expanding High Adventure
opportunities.
Proactive movement towards an underserved population.

THINK OF THE ABOVE AS STARTERS - FOOD FOR THOUGHT. SEND US SPECIFICS TO APPEND
TO THE WEBSITE. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GOALS?

<amei@marin.k12.ca.us> <jay.thal@tcs.org.wap>


Yours in Scouting
Jay Thal

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