The Special Olympics Unified Sports program brings students and Special Olympics athletes together— at least until they turn 18. The state rule excludes many Special Olympians who are allowed to stay in high school until they're 21.
Last month, Spectrum News featured Cheektowaga basketball player Amy Zelasko and her partner Jayden. She told us about her love of competing in high school sports. However, starting next year, she won't be allowed to play because she will soon age out.
- Special Olympic athletes can compete in unified sports until they are 19.
- Students can stay in high school until 21.
- The NYS Education Department and Public High School Athletic Association are working on special age requirement for inclusive sports.
Under the New York Education Department, students who turn 19 after July 1 cannot compete in high school sports.
"I just couldn't believe it,” said Margaret Smeeding, mother of a Special Olympian. “It's wrong, so wrong."
Smeeding's son Zack aged out of unified sports this year, even though he’s still a student at Clarence High School. While he can help keep scores at the games and cheer from the sidelines, Smeeding says she has already seen the impact.
"It’s very different from being able to compete, wear your school shirt and show school pride,” said Smeeding. “It is not just about the sports, it’s the social aspect too.”
So now she's trying to change the rule.
"I’m not someone to just sit by and say you can’t do anything, especially when it’s something so blatantly wrong."
She started calling state legislators and reaching out to the education department, who holds the power to change the rule. Then she typed up a letter, asking for the rules to be amended. She created a blank letter template supporters can send, and so far it’s gained a lot of traction.
Now parents from all over have been petitioning to get the rule changed.
It reads as follows:
“I am a parent / coach / relative / friend to a special needs individual who participates in High School Unified Sports. It recently was brought to my attention that currently the Unified Sports leagues follow the NYSPHSAA rules of eligibility. To me that means that while this individual can attend High School until the age of 21 they cannot continue to participate in Unified Sports beyond age 18 & their first 4 years of high school attendance (”duration of competition”).
This rule needs to be amended for our unified athletes. The whole idea behind a unified league was to make school sports inclusive for these kids. For some of these individuals it is the most activity they have outside of PE and promotes exercise and good health. Beyond that is the psychological benefits of being included – being one of the guys and girls. The pride they have as they put their sports uniforms on, the friendships and comradery they share with typical kids as well as their non-typical peers, and the shear joy in being considered an athlete representing their school is not something that should be taken away merely because they aged out.
You should be there when a coach has to explain to one of our kids they can no longer play because NYS has rules about being too old.
I ask that you advocate for all of our kids, allowing for participation in unified sports for their ENTIRE high school careers. We aren’t looking for any school to build NBA players or pro bowlers, we are looking for all of our schools to build bridges between typical and non-typical kids and friendships that could very well last a lifetime. Isn’t it time for us all to be more kind to one another?”
Dr. Robert Zayas, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association says it is working with the education department to get the rule changed.
The amended rule would change the age for those participating in inclusive sports and possibly create a waiver system for schools to make the decision at their own discretion.
If everything works out, Zayas hopes to have it in place before the start of the next unified season.