Re: Alternate Rank Requirements
Colin Mc. (colinm@RUST.NET)
Sun, 5 Sep 1999 08:01:13 -0400
-----Original Message-----
From: Kris Swank who has a scout with Spina Bifida
Kris,
>old Scoutmaster is moving and my Husband is now Scoutmaster
First of all, my congratulations to your husband on embarking on one of
the most educational experiences of his life. Just keep remembering that
he can learn from the Scouts, I still am ;-)
>We have a young man in our Troop who has Spina Bifida, because of
>factors relating to this condition he has not been on camp-outs and
>won't do much of the physical requirements for the first 3 ranks.
When you state "won't do much", is that because he won't try or someone
feels he can't. I ask this for several reasons:
If it's he won't try, then someone needs to talk to him about doing his
best. If he won't try now then the time he spends in Scouting will not
benefit him as much as it should. In fact, I think he would be a likely
candidate to drop out.
If he "won't do much" because the parents or SM are not allowing him to
because of fears for safety, etc., then he is not being allowed to do
his best. Too many times adults will not let a scout with a disAbility
do the requirement and the loser is the scout.
>The old Scoutmaster is moving and my Husband is now Scoutmaster
>and wants to see if this young man qualifies for alternate
requirements.
Not meaning to be harsh but this sounds like the SM is trying to set up
a plan of what this scout can do based upon his opinion. As SM he should
be looking at the requirements and determining how he can have the scout
do them. Much better to take the pro-active position, the winner is the
scout. If there are alternates to set up then he must involve the scout
and his parents. There are other resources as well, see below.
>We will be giving the Council Advancement Committee the required
>paperwork, however, he needs some suggestions for replacement
>requirements.
This sounds like the Council Advancement Committee would receive a long
list of alternate requirements. I sit on the Council Advancement
Committee and if I received a list of alternates that covered an
extended period of time (ie. a year), I would strongly consider
rejecting them. Six month plans may be a little more feasible. None of
us knows what the scout will be capable of doing in six months.
>Would taking part in Hikes instead of Camp-outs work?
Would you join scOUTING to go on a hike and never a campout? Why can't
he go? There are scouts with all types of disAbilities that go camping.
Why is this scout not going?
>He has gone on a 3 mile hike with the Troop and did it but he was
>exausted and it was hard on him.
Hard on him? I truly don't understand. If it was hard on him why does he
keep coming to the meetings? Hard on him or challenged him and in it he
found new strengths, new emotions, and a sense of accomplishment that he
has never experienced before? Hard on him or hard on others? Hard on him
or perceived hard on him by others.
>What about for the exercises for Tenderfoot?
What about them? They say do your best. Perhaps in the beginning you
have to record ZERO for the number of pushups he can accomplish. Yet, 30
days later you record ONE. Imagine the emotion and feeling of success
he, and the parents, and the SM, will have. He passed, he did his best.
Please don't assume he can't do them, let him try. I've felt that
emotion and I hope the new SM will as well.
>The swimming requirements could also be a problem. Any suggestions
would be
>appreciated.
Swimming is Second Class, focus on Tenderfoot right now. Portions of the
swimming requirement may be a problem for him, but let him try. If there
is a valid medical or safety reason the Troop Committee can waive the
swimming requirement. I say portions because I don't know the details of
what he can or cannot do. Req 7c may not present a problem at all. So he
can only throw a life ring 5 feet. That 5 feet maybe all someone needs
to save their life.
>the young man attends meetings regularly and seems to be
>interested but won't give anyone a clue about what is going on and the
He's given me a big clue. HE LIKES IT! HE'S HAVING FUN! He's coming back
for more. Sure sounds to me that you feel the hike was hard on him more
than he does.
>Old Scoutmaster didn't try to work with his family.
A must! Work with the scout and family. It is required when alternates
are being established. It doesn't have to be the SM, it can be an ASM.
Kris, you ask for alternate suggestions and I haven't given any. Each
disAbled scout may require an alternate that is unique for them. For
example; raising and lower the flag for the Tenderfoot requirement.
Can't get out of the wheelchair to reach the tie-down. Lower the
tie-down.
Can't grip the rope. Use larger rope.
No arms for gripping the rope. Instruct other scouts in how to do it.
and so forth.
Yes, we at Working With Scouts With disAbilities can be a resource for
you. There are others as well.
Each council has (or should have) a person who is the Special Needs
Coordinator or some other title. This person can be a great resource in
all areas. Your District Advancement Chair may be a resource as well.
Not only in the potential alternates but also in the processing of
alternates. Another resource is the scout, if possible he can suggest
alternatives after he has tried it. Yet another is the other scouts.
They want their fellow scout to succeed and with the great inventive and
imaginative minds of youth, they will absolutely floor you with the
suggestions that come pouring out. Of course the other members of this
list.
Kris, now is the time to look into other areas as well.
Has the troop contacted a Disability Awareness MB Counselor to come and
talk to them? The next logical step is to have the entire troop earn the
merit badge. We have a session every two years and have almost 100% of
the scouts earn the MB (troop size is 95 scouts).
Have you looked at your council camp(s) and are they accessible? BSA has
a large number of publications for the council to assist in making the
camps accessible. If they haven't done some of the changes, perhaps now
is the time.
Kris, we are here and will be here to assist in anyway we can. I hope
to hear from you about the success's of the scout and everyone else..
YiWWSWd,
Colin M. McConnell colinm@rust.net
Having so much fun I can Bearrrrrly stand it
||<|-success-is-making-a-difference-in-the-life-of-one-young-man-<<||
District Advancement Chair, Northridge District, Detroit Area Council
Troop 1707 Committee Member, Troy, MI (Scoutmaster Emeritus)
You may also find information at the web-site of
Working With Scouts With disAbilities (WWSWd)
http://boyscouts-marin.org/wwswd/wwswd.htm
