Re: "lost" scout, wheelchair swimmers, etc.
Rodger Morris (rlm@SUNED1.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL)
Tue, 27 Sep 1994 10:05:11 PDT
>Thanks for all the replies. My particular wheelchair scout has cerebral
>palsy, and while he has very strong shoulders, the spinning of wheels is
>much easier than coordinating swimming strokes. It is my personal belief
...
That's a different proposition than merely being wheelchair bound. I suggest
and strongly recommend that your Troop Committee waive the swimming
requirements and let your Scout press ahead to First Class Scout and beyond.
I also recommend that you look up a Water Safety Instructor who is certified
to teach people with physical handicaps. Your local chapter of the Red Cross
can help you find someone. Your Scout needs to learn drownproofing
techniques. From there, he can go on to swimming.
Please pass on to your Scout that one of the finest Scouters I have ever had
the privilege of knowing, Don Taylor, had non-progressive cerebral palsy. He
was not wheelchair bound, but he would fall over in 3-5 seconds if he closed
his eyes, due to a deficient balancing mechanism. He made Eagle Scout, and
it took him almost 6 years to do it.
Best of everything to both you and your Scout!!
Yours in Scouting,
Rodger
WSI, 1974
National Camp School, Aquatics, 1975
National Camp School Staff, Aquatics, 1976
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
