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THE DISABILITY EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE
ADVOCATING
FOR
STUDENT ATHLETES
WITH DISABILITIES
Presented by Dan McCoy
IntroductionDaniel McCoy
Sophomore at University of PittsburghNative of PittsburghGraduated from Fox Chapel Area High School
I am here today to advocated for student athletes with disabilities.
Disabled Since Birth
I am a person with disabilities
My disabilities are: Spina Bifida Arnold Chiari Syndrome Type I Hydrocephalus
From an early age, I participated in adaptive and non-adaptive team sports Basketball Flag Football Karate Lacrosse T-Ball
I have also participated in these activities: Snow Skiing Biking Rowing
Always Active
I Am An Athlete
By middle school, I realized that competition trumps inclusion in sports Still wanted to compete
Focused on Sled Hockey The Mighty Penguins Began competing in US and
Canada when I was 8
Setting a BIG Goal“I want to play sled hockey in the Paralympics!” USA won GOLD in 2002 Team USA jersey
With support from family and coaches…and hard work
Selected to the US Jr National Sled Hockey Team at age 14
Selected to the USA Men’s National Sled Hockey Team at age 16
The NCAA and Student Athletes
NCAA offers tremendous and well-deserved support for student athletes These athletes attend college and participate
in NCAA recognized sports They have the potential to receive financial
support Athletic Scholarships for Div I and II Academic Scholarships for Div III Academic via tutoring
As of September 2012, there are over 450,000 student athletes in the NCAA
Student Athletes with Disabilities
Student athletes with cognitive and/or physical disabilities exist in the university setting! Many student athletes with disabilities have been training
just as long and just as hard as their non-disabled peers Many are participating in IPC recognized sports both
nationally and internationally Many have been accepted to NCAA recognized
universities and colleges
Yet, we are not afforded the same benefits as NCAA student athletes (without disabilities)
Why Is This Important to Me?Sports CAN open doors but …
an education WILL KEEP the doors open Participation in sports helps develop an individual’s character
Learning how to handle winning and losing develops who you become off the ice/field
Sled Hockey taught me how to handle success and failure Given me the ability to believe I can set a goal and achieve it
Sled hockey has helped me become the person I am today but…
…being both a college student and an athlete has been tough
Balancing Academics and Competition
Freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh was a challenge I had a full course load and was a member of the US
Men’s National Sled Hockey team Was traveling once a month to 5 day training
camps Was traveling to competitions
Calgary North Carolina South Korea
An honor student in high school, I found myself struggling to maintain average grades
Seeking SupportDisability Services supported me in disability-related issues
Navigating the campus in a wheelchair Room and board Test scheduling
Had to advocate for myself with National team travel commitments and missed classes/work
Professors were understanding to a point Weren’t required to be
Played catch-up both semesters Returned from international competition to take
finals
Contrasting SupportMost NCAA Student Athletes have a built in academic support structure
Academic needs are addressed in order to ensure eligibility
Tutors are provided Schedules are balanced against
competition
NCAA Student Athletes advocate for self (with a backup system)
AdvocatingIf the NCAA recognized adaptive sports, universities and colleges would more easily embrace students athletes with disabilities
Currently two dozen universities and colleges recognize a few adaptive sports as part of their athletic programs
University of New Hampshire Edinboro University
University of Pittsburgh is currently not on the list
The ParalympicsI was recently selected to the 2014 US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
We will be competing in Sochi Russia March 7-16, 2014
We will be defending our GOLD medal from the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver
Part-time this semester to focus on training
Proud to be at PITT!
Very honored to be attending the University of Pittsburgh I want to succeed in both academics and
sports I want to graduate from Pitt!
And, I know the University of Pittsburgh will lead in advocating for student athletes with disabilities!
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