Scouts with DisABILITIES Cherokee District NE Georgia Council Alternate Advancement Requirements

Perspective Quality of Life of a youth with a disability The power of belonging

Mission Aims  Character Development – To build self-reliance, self- discipline, self-confidence and self- respect  Citizenship – To foster love of community, country and world, along with a commitment of service to others and an understanding of democratic principles.  Personal Fitness – To develop social, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual fitness and physical health that will stay with a Scout for the rest of his life. It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law. Scouting is A Values Based Program

Rules & Regulations Clause 20, Article XI, Section 32 Scouting is for all boys……

History The first Chief Scout Executive, James E. West, had a disability Scouting has had fully participating members with physical, mental and emotional disabilities since it’s founding in 1910

Advancement Self confidence is developed by measuring up to a challenge or a standard Peer confidence develops when the same measuring system is used for everyone - when all must meet the same challenge to receive equal recognition Confidence in leaders comes about when there is consistency in measuring - when leaders use a single standard of fairness Building confidence through measurement

On my Honor…. ….I will do MY BEST Expectations

What is a Disability? physical or mental permanent rather than temporary statement by a licensed physician statement by an educational administrator cannot complete the requirement(s)

What is a Disability? Attention Deficit Autism Cerebral palsy Developmental disability Down’s syndrome Emotional disability Learning disability Mental retardation Multiple sclerosis Muscular dystrophy Physical disability Hearing impairment Seizures Speech/language disorders Spinal cord injuries Traumatic brain injury Visual impairment

Issues Specialized Troops vs Mainstreaming

Issues How we react to a person with disabilities

Issues Over protective parents Disinterested parents

Issues Activities in which the Scout can not participate

Issues Individualized Game Plans

Issues Encourage Advancement

Resources Parents Pre-joining Conference Define abilities/limitations Transportation Attend meetings Discipline Diet Living skills Medication Emergency procedures

Resources Professionals Physicians Visiting nurses Educators Counselors Physical therapists Agencies

Resources Older Scouts

Resources A Scoutmaster’s Guide to Working with Scouts with DisABILITIES BSA Publication #33056A

Resources Scouting for Youth with Physical Disabilities (WW33057B) Scouting for Youth with Emotional Disabilities (WW32998A) Scouting for the Learning Disabled (WW33065A) Scouting for the Hearing Impaired (WW33061A) Scouting for the Blind and Visually Impaired (WW33063A)

Resources Handbooks in Braille and on cassette Closed caption videotapes Merit badge books on cassette Special Needs Library of Northeast Georgia Athens-Clarke County Regional Library Athens, Georgia

Advancement Guidance Common Sense Alternate Requirements

Age Membership beyond the normal age Personal Health and Medical Record Form Determined at unit level Approved at Council level

Advancement requirements should not be watered down or eliminated for boys with disabilities The standard for every boy is “Has he done his best?” Cub Scouts

May be given permission by the Cubmaster and Pack committee to substitute electives for a few of the achievement requirements that are beyond his capabilities. Cub Scouts It is best to include the parents in this process of determining substitutions since they are most familiar with their son’s abilities.

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Ranks written request to Council advancement committee explain the suggested alternate requirements in sufficient detail so as to allow the advancement committee to make a decision submitted to and approved by the local council prior to completing alternate requirements.

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Ranks complete as many of the regular requirements as his ability permits before applying for alternate requirements alternate requirements as demanding of effort as the regular requirements alternate requirements involving physical activity must be approved by physician

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Ranks unit leader and board of review must explain that a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources decision of the council advancement committee should be recorded and delivered to the Scout and his leader (NOTE: The substitution of "trip" for "hike" in the footnote to Second Class requirement 1b does NOT require the procedure listed above. That substitution may be permitted by the unit leaders based on their understanding of the Scout's physical condition. )

Eagle Scout Rank May be achieved by a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified* Venturer who has a physical or mental disability by qualifying for alternate merit badges. This does not apply to individual requirements for merit badges. Merit badges are awarded only when all requirements are met as stated. * must have achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout.

Eagle Scout Rank The candidate must earn as many of the required merit badges as his ability permits before applying for an alternate Eagle Scout merit badge. The candidate must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges as his ability permits

Eagle Scout Rank The Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Merit Badges must be completed prior to qualifying for alternate merit badges. The alternate merit badges chosen must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the required merit badges.

Eagle Scout Rank

When alternates chosen involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician. The unit leader and the board of review must explain that to attain the Eagle Scout rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.

Eagle Scout Rank The application must be approved by the council committee responsible for advancement, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for the disabled. The candidate's application for Eagle must be made on the Eagle Scout Rank Application, with the Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges attached.

Varsity Scouts Varsity Scouts follow the same advancement policies as Boy Scouts

Venturing/Sea Scouting Alternate requirements for Venturing/Sea Scout advancement can be determined at the unit level Charles Holmes & Brad Harris, BSA National

Venturing/Sea Scouting Can earn Eagle if they earned First Class in a Boy Scout or Varsity unit Alternate merit badge requirements used for Boy Scouts apply

Summary Scouting is for all boys……