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!