Play Ball! Understanding OCR's Dear Colleague Letter about ... · OCR’s "Dear Colleague" Letter (1/25/13) A school district may not operate its program or activity on the basis

"Play Ball!" Understanding OCR's "Dear Colleague" Letter about

Students with Disabilities in Athletics

Karen HaaseHarding & Shultz

(402) [email protected]

H & S School Law

@KarenHaase

OCR issued Dear Colleague letter on 1/25/13 Does not change the law or the

regulations Indicates an area of increased

attention Plaintiffs’ lawyers take their

cues from OCR

OCR’s "Dear Colleague" Letter (1/25/13)

What are we talking about?

“Extracurricular athletics – which include club, intramural, or interscholastic (e.g., freshman, junior varsity, varsity) athletics at all education levels – are an important component of an overall education program”

What are we talking about?

OCR’s focus here is on athletics Principles apply to all activities

• Clubs• Fine arts• Before & after school programs • Field trips

Applies to colleges as well


Overview of 504 Requirements• School district required to provide

qualified student with a disability an opportunity to benefit from the school district’s program equal to that of students without disabilities

• Defines “disability”• Defines “qualified”

IDEA issues

Section 504

Students with disabilities shall receive “equal opportunity” to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities

May include: counseling, athletics, transportation, health services, clubs, and employment services


“Of course, simply because a student is a ‘qualified’ student with a disability does not mean that the student must be allowed to participate in any selective or competitive program offered by a school district. . . .”

OCR’s Letter to NSBA(12/18/13)

Providing equal opportunity does notmean Compromising student safety Changing selective teams Giving disabled students an unfair

advantage Changing elements affecting

fundamental nature of the game

McDowell Schools 55 IDELR 82 (OCR 2010)

• Cheerleading tryouts‾ Student had growth hormone

deficiency‾ 24 tried out for 12 spots‾ 5 impartial judges and an

extensive rubric‾ Student scored lowest of 24

• OCR found no discrimination‾ Students must be given reasonable

accommodations, but must meet performance standards

‾ Grading was tied to performance standards (i.e. essential functions)

McDowell Schools 55 IDELR 82 (OCR 2010)


“. . . school districts may require a level of skill or ability of a student in order for that student to participate in a selective or competitive program or activity so long as the selection or competition criteria are not discriminatory”


“… students with disabilities have to compete with everyone else and legitimately earn their place on the team.”

Pine-Richland (PA) School District113 LRP 32050 (OCR 2013)

Varsity hockey tryouts‾ Club team, but school supported‾ Student has Asperger's and anxiety

disorder ‾ Great stats on JV junior year‾ School psych called meeting to discuss

student’s stress‾ Didn’t make varsity team senior year

Pine-Richland (PA) School District113 LRP 32050 (OCR 2013)

Parents argued that coaches knew of prior issues and discriminated

OCR ‾ 13 of the 43 players who tried out

were verified; 5 made the team‾ Coaches used clear metrics and were

unanimous ‾ No evidence of discrimination other

than allegations

Marion County (FL) Sch. Dist. 37 IDELR 13 (OCR 2001)

Student with unspecified disabilities trying out for cheerleading

Asked to videotape sponsor’s instructions and demonstrations

OCR: school must accommodate


Legal obligation to comply with 504 “supersedes any rule of any association . . . that would render a student ineligible to participate or limit the eligibility of a student to participate….” would violate obligations under Section

504 to belong to an organization that discriminates

Columbus Public Sch. Dist., 107 LRP 35600 (OCR 2006)

The student held back in kindergarten due to LD, competed in swim and cross country teams beginning in 9th grade

District excluded during senior year because she turned 19

District relied on NSAA’s rule Parents sued the district

Columbus Public Sch. Dist., 107 LRP 35600 (OCR 2006)

OCR: ruled for district Student "was denied these opportunities

based on her age, not her disability." District treated all students the same

"regardless of whether they have a disability"

Washington v. Indiana HSAA, 181 F.3d 840 (7th Cir. 1999)

LD student dropped out of school; then returned after a year

Sought waiver of eight-semester rule (not age)

IHSAA denied request Kid and school sued ISHAA: student excluded by passage of

time, not disability

Washington v. Indiana HSAA, 181 F.3d 840 (7th Cir. 1999)

7th Cir:• Waiver would be reasonable• Disproportionate impact • Waiver would fundamentally alter;

had waived in past• student would suffer irreparable harm

“by virtue of lost academic desire”

Lyon v. Ill. HSA, 60 IDELR 161 (N.D. ILL. 2013)

High school wrestler with ADHD and bipolar disorder

Challenged eight-semester rule his senior year

Granted TRO Injunction denied by different judge 15

days later


Student wrestled 4 years in a row Initial request for waiver relied on

financial and personal problems, and not disability

Distinguished Washington because here student didn’t miss a whole year


“[I]f the Court were to allow Matthew to wrestle for a fifth year, despite the fact that he has already wrestled for four years, this would in effect be granting a privilege to Matthew that other students, disabled or not, do not enjoy. This belies the purpose of the ADA.”


A school district may not operate its program or activity on the basis of generalizations, assumptions, prejudices or stereotypes about disability…. E.g. 1: coach who believes that all LD

students would fail in actual game; decides never to play this student during games

Blissfield (MI) Community Schools, 62 IDELR 95 (OCR 2013)

Student with Angelman syndrome Parent signed up for cheerleading try-

outs (other activities discussed) Coach did not

• Contact over summer about conditioning

• Notify of squad meetings • Notify of practices• Did contact every other student

Blissfield (MI) Community Schools, 62 IDELR 95 (OCR 2013)

Coach • Contacted MS cheer sponsor who told

coach student wouldn’t be attending HS

• Article in local paper that student wasn’t attending full time

Numerous witnesses shared coach’s mistaken opinion

OCR found violation

Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) Schs, 113 LRP 18233 (OCR 2013)

MMR student in self-contained SpEd Program (SAC)

SAC students excluded from regular ed field trips

SAC students excluded from dances unless parents chaperoned


Field Trips• SAC students went on numerous trips

designed for them• No evidence re SAC participation in

gen. ed. trips• Parent didn’t respond to request for

info• OCR: school warned


Dances• SAC students could not attend

without parent • School must provide supervision• SAC-specific dance not enough• Fear of harassment insufficient reason

to exclude • Found violation


Schools that offer athletics must do so in a way that gives qualified students with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation This means making reasonable

modifications May adopt bona fide safety standards


School must engage in “individualized inquiry” to determine whether the modification is necessary. “If modification is necessary, the school

must allow it unless doing so would result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the extracurricular athletic activity.”


Individualized inquiry is key “This does not necessarily mean that the

Section 504 team…must convene….” “What is called for is a reasonable,

timely, good faith effort . . . To determine whether there are reasonable modifications. . .”

Mattituck-Cutchogue (NY) Union Free SD,113 LRP 27884 (OCR 2013)

Student with anxiety disorder• School had asked to evaluate for 504,

parents declined• “informally accommodated”• Student signed up for DC trip• Student hospitalized for several weeks

Mattituck-Cutchogue (NY) Union Free SD, 113 LRP 27884 (OCR 2013)

Student with anxiety disorder• School had asked to evaluate for 504,

parents declined• “informally accommodated”• Student signed up for DC trip• Student hospitalized for anxiety • Principal wouldn’t let her go on trip

upon her release from hospital

Mattituck-Cutchogue (NY) Union Free SD, 113 LRP 27884 (OCR 2013)

OCR• School “regarded as” disabled• Student was excluded based on

school’s perceptions about the Student's fitness to participate

• Decision not made by “a group of knowledgeable persons”


If a specific modification would constitute a fundamental alteration, district still must determine if other modifications might be available that would permit the student’s participation E.g.2: hearing impaired track student

entitled to visual cue, regardless of concern for other runners

S.S. v. Whitesboro Cent. Sch. Dist. 58 IDELR 99 (NDNY 2012)

Student had panic attacks Participated in swim team Requested modification: to leave the

pool during practice and competitions Coach: doesn’t “get paid to baby-sit."

could "tell when the student was faking”

Court: There is no reasonable accommodation that a swim team coach could make for an athlete who is suddenly and sporadically afraid of the water and thus has to exit the pool during practices and competitions

S.S. v. Whitesboro Cent. Sch. Dist.58 IDELR 99 (NDNY 2012)

Ability to enter and stay in the pool is an essential requirement of being a swim team member Allowing the student to do otherwise

would fundamentally alter the nature of the swim team program

S.S. v. Whitesboro Cent. Sch. Dist. 58 IDELR 99 (NDNY 2012)

Northshore Sch. Dist.48 IDELR 199 (OCR 2006)

Student wanted to try out for cheer squad

GPA too low under school policy OCR focused on 2 issues Was GPA policy a necessary function

for cheerleading? Would modifying the policy

“fundamentally alter” program?

OCR: Not necessity: 2.8 Minimum was

arbitrary, higher than athletic requirement

Fund. Alter: 2 other district H.S.’s considered exceptions, and student was in regular ed. classroom; disab. affected grades

Northshore Sch. Dist.48 IDELR 199 (OCR 2006)


E.g.3: swimmer with one hand; two-hand touch; • One-handed touch would not

fundamentally alter• Even if it did, school district would

be required to consider other modifications

E.g.4: diabetic in after school gymnastics club

Badgett v. Alabama HSAA, 107 LRP 26900 (N.D. Ala. 2007)

High school student with cerebral palsy sought to race wheelchair in interscholastic track events AHSAA

• modification would fundamentally alter activity

• Concerns re administration and fairness to other students

Badgett v. Alabama HSAA, 107 LRP 26900 (N.D. Ala. 2007)

Court: ruled for AHSAA• [The student] is asking the court to

equate wheeling with running and jumping despite the fact that wheeling is a distinct discipline.

• To eliminate running and jumping . . . would fundamentally alter the nature of the…activity.

Raytown (MO) C-2 Sch Dist,53 IDELR 239 (OCR 2009)

6 year old with autism Parent wanted him to stay in aftercare

program Program excluded students who

required toileting assistance, a separate location due to behavioral issues, and one-to-one assistance

Raytown (MO) C-2 Sch Dist, 53 IDELR 239 (OCR 2009)

District: having additional assistance available for BD students fundamentally altered the program OCR district's rationale a pretext for

discrimination

Raytown (MO) C-2 Sch Dist, 53 IDELR 239 (OCR 2009)

Adding “supervision and services does not fundamentally alter the nature of a program designed to provide supervision for children," Children with disabilities cannot be

categorically excluded from voluntary day care programs run by public school districts


FN 17: Although a school district may also raise the defense that a needed modification . . . would constitute an undue burden to its program. . . such a defense would rarely, of ever, prevail in the context of extracurricular athletics Neither fundamental alteration nor

undue burden an IDEA defense

High school student with cerebral palsy, ADHD, ODD, other disabilities

Student’s IEP included transition goal of participating in extracurricular and community activities

Maple Lake Sch. Dist.108 LRP 21568 (Minn. SEA 2007)

IEP team offered to introduce student to bball coach and invited him to help out as team manager

Coach included; student successful Student was not allowed to travel on the

team bus to away games Per District policy, only competing

athletes were allowed to ride bus to away games


ALJ: • District took appropriate steps to

provide extracurricular services and activities to student as necessary

• District not required to transport to away games because student was receiving benefit from home games



Students who cannot participate in the existing extracurricular athletics program should still have an equal opportunity to receive the benefits of extracurricular athletics School district should create additional

opportunities for those students with disabilities


“. . . a school district should offer students with disabilities opportunities for athletic activities that are separate or different from those offered to students without disabilities. These athletic opportunities provided by school districts should be supported equally. . .”


“. . .the guidance urges school districts to create additional opportunities. . . . It is not OCR’s view that a school district is required to do so.” If school district does create separate

activities, they must be supported equally

Practical Pointers• Make Individualized Decisions• Be proactive• Document Discussions• Chose Your Words Wisely• Include and Inform Staff • Review Field Trips and Dances • Be Aware of Community Opportunities

"Play Ball!" Understanding OCR's "Dear Colleague" Letter about

Students with Disabilities in Athletics

Karen HaaseHarding & Shultz

(402) [email protected]

H & S School Law

@KarenHaase

Documents

Play Ball! Understanding OCR's Dear Colleague Letter about ... · OCR’s "Dear Colleague" Letter (1/25/13) A school district may not operate its program or activity on the basis