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How do you treat a person who has a disability?

• Focus on strengths• Don’t be embarrassed about asking to help • …like a person! • They just have “different” abilities…

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• Why Scouting for the disabled?

• Disabilities you may encounter.

• Issues you may encounter.

• Alternate Advancement - Cubs

• Alternate Age Requirements

• Resources

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Why Scouting for the disabled?

• If you assume that Scouting is good for youth, then clearly it must be good for physically disabled youth.

• Many disabled children live in isolation from the rest of the world. Scouting may be their only recreational activity and their only contact with others of their age.

• Scouting teaches the disabled skills that will help them prepare for life as an adult in our society.

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Disabilities you may encounter.

Physical Disabilities - Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Muscular Atrophy, Limb Deformities, Epilepsy

Hearing Disabilities - Hard of Hearing, Postlingual Deafness, Prelingual Deafness

Mental Retardation - Low IQ, Poor Adaptive Skills, Mental Age of a Child

Learning Disabilities - Problem in Read, Writing, or Math, Problems with Coordination, Social Skills, and Self Control.

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Issues you may encounter.

• Should the child be placed in a regular unit or in a special unit.

• Parents that do not want to help you.

• Parents that are over protective.

• How the other members will treat the child.

• Events that the child can not participate in.

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Alternate Advancement - Cubs

• A boy’s performance in Cub Scouts is determined by his parents. When they think that a child has done his best they should discuss alternative requirements with the Cubmaster.

• Requirements for advancement may be substituted by the Cubmaster. However, the boy should be encouraged to go as far as he can with the regular requirements.

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Alternate Age Requirements

• There are specific requirements that must be met to qualify as a Scout who has a disability. The disability must be permanent/long lasting.

• If the conditions noted are met the youth is qualified to register beyond the normal registration age.

• The local council must approve these registrations on an individual basis.

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Resources

• The boy’s parent(s)• The boy’s teacher(s) – special education?• Google• BSA publications

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A Scoutmaster’s Guide to Working with Scouts with Disabilities.

Boy Scouts of America, © 2002

#33056A

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Scouting for Youth with Physical Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 1971, 1996 printing

#33057C

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Scouting for the Hearing Impaired

Boy Scouts of America, © 1999

#33061A

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Scouting for Youth with Mental Retardation

Boy Scouts of America, ©1975, 1995 printing

#33059B

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Scouting for Youth with Learning Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 2001

#33065A

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Scouting for Youth with Emotional Disabilities

Boy Scouts of America, © 1994

#33008

Scouting for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Boy Scouts of America, © 1974, 1994 printing

#33063C

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QUESTIONS ??