Pack 356 – Holly Springs, NC
Occoneechee Council
Revised; March 20, 2006
Table of Contents
Table
of Contents 2
Overview
3
A
few words from our Cubmaster 3
BSA
Policy 4
Membership
Policy for Youth with Special Needs 4
Membership
Rules 4
Advancement
for Youth Members with Special Needs
5
Pack
356 Policy 6
Fully
compliant with National BSA Policy 6
Temporary
versus Permanent handicaps 6
Disclaimer
for unforeseen omissions 6
Recognition
of Needs 6
Events
and Accommodations 7
Handicap
Considerations 7
Scouting
for the Hearing Impaired: 7
Scouting
for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
8
Scouting
for Youth With Physical Disabilities:
9
Wheel
chair bound 10
Other
Handicaps 10
Training
Aids Available 10
More
Information 11
Contact
List 11
Glossary
12
This document
was drafted on January 10, 2005 for the leadership and
parents of Pack 356 of Holly Springs, NC. Any additions or
changes to this document should be sent to Kirk Rice
(919-557-7505).
Overview
The Boy Scouts of America encourages youth with physical,
mental, and emotional disabilities to become fully
participating members in the Scouting movement.
Since
its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had
fully participating members with physical, mental, and
emotional disabilities. Dr. James E. West, the first Chief
Scout Executive, was himself disabled. Although most of the
BSA's efforts have been directed at keeping such boys in
the mainstream of Scouting, it has also recognized the
special needs of those with severe disabilities.
The
Boy
Scout Handbook has had
Braille editions for many years; merit badge pamphlets have
been recorded on cassette tapes for blind Scouts; and
closed-caption training videos have been produced. In 1965,
registration of over-age Scouts who are mentally retarded
became possible.
Today, approximately 100,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and
Venturers with disabilities are registered with the Boy
Scouts of America in more than 4,000 units chartered to
community organizations.
Pack 356
is committed to programs for all Scouts, Scouters and
parents who are involved in or have an interest in
providing a Scouting opportunity for youth with
disabilities.
A
few words from our Cubmaster
Bill
Piazza is the Cubmaster of Pack 356. He is committed to the
growth and development of young men through scouting. The
following are a few words from Bill on his position in
regard to scouting and disabilities:
“We are all individuals - no two of us are
alike. We all have special talents and abilities that
contribute to our 'uniqueness'. We also all have
disabilities - things that we can't do as well as
others. Our disabilities might be simple things such
as requiring glasses to see clearly or not being able to
run as fast as someone else. But sometimes our
disabilities are more pronounced and really impact the way
that we experience life.
A Cub Scout
with a severe disability wants to go camping, race Pinewood
Derby cars, tie knots, and earn advancement just like all
the other scouts. By reading this Handbook you'll be
in a much better position to help him achieve that
goal. Thank you for all you do for Scouting and a
special thank you for going the extra mile with your
disabled scouts.”
BSA
Policy
Membership
Policy for Youth with Special Needs
The Boy
Scouts of America has a strong policy of inclusion and
fairness for boys with disabilities. This is outlined in
Article IX of their national charter, stated below:
CLAUSE
19 of ARTICLE XI, SECTION 3, of THE RULES & REGULATIONS
of THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA reads:
Clause
19. Mentally
Retarded or Severely Physically Handicapped Youth Members.
In the discretion of the Executive Board, and under such
rules and regulations as it may prescribe upon consultation
with appropriate medical authorities, registration of boys
who are either mentally retarded or severely physically
handicapped, including the blind, deaf, and emotionally
disturbed, over age 11 as Cub Scouts, and registration of
young adults who are either mentally retarded or severely
physically handicapped, including blind, deaf, and
emotionally disturbed, and the participation of each in the
respective advancement programs while registered, is
authorized.
Membership
Rules
The
chartered organizations sponsoring Scouting determine, with
approval from appropriate medical authorities, whether a
youth member is qualified to register (based on the above
definitions) beyond the normal registration age. The
Cubmaster's signature on the Cub Scout application or on
the unit’s charter renewal application certifies the
approval of the chartered organization for the person to
register. The local council must approve these
registrations on an individual basis.
The medical condition of all candidates for membership
beyond the normal registration age must be certified by a
physician licensed to practice medicine, or an evaluation
statement must be certified by an educational
administrator. This is recorded on the Personal Health and
Medical Record Form. These forms can be obtained from the
Cubmaster or the Council office. Any corrective measures,
restrictions, limitations, or abnormalities must be noted.
In the case of mentally retarded or emotionally disturbed
candidates applying for membership, a licensed psychologist
or psychiatrist must certify their condition. Current
health, medical, or certification records of all youth
members beyond the normal registration age who have
disabilities are to be retained in the unit file at the
council service center.
Advancement
for Youth Members with Special Needs
The
following are the guidelines for membership and advancement
in Scouting for persons having disabilities or other
special needs. The American with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) provides the following definition of an individual
with a disability:
"An
individual is considered to have a 'disability' if he has a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one
or more major life activities (e.g., . . . seeing hearing,
speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks,
learning, caring for oneself, and working), has a record of
such impairment, or is regarded as having such an
impairment.
"An individual with epilepsy, paralysis, HIV infection,
AIDS, a substantial hearing or visual impairment, mental
retardation, or a specific learning disability, is covered,
but an individual with a minor, non-chronic condition of
short duration, such as a sprain, broken limb, or the flu
would not be covered by the ADA.
"The ADA definition protects individuals with a record of a
disability and would cover, for example, a person who has
recovered from cancer or mental illness.
"And the ADA protects individuals who are regarded as
having a substantially limiting impairment, even though
they may not have such impairment. For example . . . a
qualified individual with a severe facial disfigurement is
protected from being denied employment because an employer
feared the 'negative reactions' of customers or coworkers."
The US
Department of Education identifies a severely handicapped
child as one who, because of the intensity of his physical,
mental, or emotional problems, or a combination of such
problems, needs education, social, psychological, and
medical services beyond those that have been offered by
traditional regular and special educational programs. This
is required in order to maximize his full potential for
useful and meaningful participation in society and for
self-fulfillment. Such children include those classified as
seriously emotionally disturbed or profoundly and severely
mentally retarded, and those with two or more serious
handicapping conditions, such as the mentally retarded
blind, and the cerebral-palsied deaf.
Pack
356 Policy
Fully
compliant with National BSA Policy
The
policies of Pack 356 are in complete compliance with
National, Council and District policies on this issue. As a
Chartered member in good standing with the Council and
District, Pack 356 strives to uphold the spirit of
inclusion and fairness for all scouts. If any programs or
practices come into conflict with BSA policy, they will not
be considered valid programs within the Pack.
Temporary
versus Permanent handicaps
The Pack
differentiates between temporary and permanent handicaps.
While special accommodations can be made in programs for
permanent handicaps, Programs may, or may not be changed
for a temporary handicap (i.e., broken arm, small open
wound, cold or flu).
Disclaimer for unforeseen omissions
As this
Pack policy is trying to accommodate as many issues as
possible, some items may not be included. This does not
mean any items were disregarded. If there are specific
items that need to be addressed by the Pack, please discuss
this with the Cubmaster.
Recognition of
Needs
The
basic premise of Scouting for youth with disabilities is
that they want most to participate like other youth and
Scouting gives them that opportunity. Thus, much of the
program for Scouts with disabilities is directed at:
(1)
Helping unit leaders develop an awareness of disabled
people among youth without disabilities, and
(2) Encouraging the inclusion of Scouts with disabilities
in Cub Scout packs.
There
are many units, however, composed of members with identical
disabilities such as an all-blind Boy Scout troop or an
all-deaf Cub Scout pack but these disabled members are
encouraged to participate in Scouting activities at the
district, council, area, regional, and national levels
along with other Scouts. Many of these special Scouting
units are located in special schools or centers that make
the Scouting program part of their curriculum.
Many of the approximately 320 BSA local councils have
established their own advisory committees for Scouts with
disabilities. These committees develop and coordinate an
effective Scouting program for youth with disabilities,
using all available community resources. Local councils
also are encouraged to provide accessibility in their camps
by removing physical barriers so that Scouts with
disabilities can participate in summer and resident camp
experiences. Some local councils also have professional
staff members responsible for the program for members with
disabilities.
Events and
Accommodations
Pack 356
has numerous events scheduled throughout the year. For a
complete listing of these events visit the Pack website
at
http://www.pack356.org/ .
Activities to consider include:
-
Den and Pack meetings
- Banquet
- Pinewood
Derby
- Family campouts
- Scouting for
Food
- The Big Trip
- Scout Sunday
Each of
these events is planned for all scouts, and special
accommodations can be made if discussed in advance with the
Pack leadership.
Handicap
Considerations
Handicaps
to be considered by Pack 356 include, but are not limited
to the following categories:
Scouting
for the Hearing Impaired:
The Pack
frequently provides “signers” for Pack meetings
to enable communication to hearing impaired scouts or their
parents. While this is not a standard practice for all
meetings, accommodations can be made with proper notice to
leadership.
Opportunities for the hearing-impaired scout are not
limited to only joining a unit of hearing boys. Training
and suggestions are offered to Pack leadership on the
conduct of Den and Pack meetings, special activities and
the outdoor program.
The use of visual aids can be incorporated into meetings to
assist those with hearing limitations. For example, during
the Pinewood Derby Race event all results are shown on
projected screens as well as being announced.
Audio public address systems are also used by the Pack at
all large gatherings to provide load, clear sound that is
easier to understand than low muffled speech.
Leaders are also briefed on how to use relays and other
publicly accessible equipment for placing phone calls to
scouts and their families. This does not require the scout
leaders to have any special equipment. For more information
on this, please contact the Cubmaster.
Leaders in the Pack are encouraged to carry small notebooks
and pens, so that written communication can be provided
when other methods are ineffective.
Signing is a language for which Scouts and Scouters can
earn an interpreter strip.
BSA National policy grants accommodations by the unit for
advancement in the following statement:
Article XI, Section 3, Clause 19 of the BSA Rules and
regulations reads, in part: ...under such rules and
regulations as may be prescribed upon consultation with
appropriate medical authorities, registration of boys who
are either mentally retarded or severely physically
handicapped...as Cub Scouts..., and the participation of
each in the respective advancement programs while
registered, is authorized.
Scouting for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
The
question that every blind Scout and/or his leader should
ask is not "Can I do this activity?" but rather, "HOW can I
do this activity?" Remove the word blind, and the question
applies to all of us.
The first piece of sage advice is to discard old notions.
Vision is so much a part of most lives that we forget how
much we learn, though that knowledge is incomplete, without
integrating the other senses. Touch, taste, smell, and
hearing help compensate for what the sighted person takes
for granted or suppresses below some threshold. A light
outdoor breeze, fully appreciated, can yield information.
Audio
public address systems are also used by the Pack at all
large gatherings to provide load, clear sound that is
easier to understand than low muffled speech. This may help
when visual aids are difficult to see.
Scouting
manuals are available in Braille, large print, and on tape.
Additionally, speech synthesis can convey the meanings of
these individual pixels. There are also Braille compasses
and watches and other tactile training aids. Unit leaders
will work to understand the leadership demands in mixed
units and the careful balance necessary so that neither
leaders nor Scouts do too much for the boy, which may
inhibit his learning.
Blindness
is not an impediment to enjoying the fruits of Scouting.
Tips for pursuing everyday Scouting are abundant: from
pitching tents to knot tying, tactile learning of nature in
the outdoors and in controlled situations such as museums,
outdoor cookery from the use of a knife, ax, or saw,
through the securing of fuel and building a fire, to the
preparation of the meal, and, the use of maps and
development of compass skills.
Scouting for Youth with Physical Disabilities:
Scouting
is for all youth; some just accomplish things differently.
One Scoutmaster wrote: “The big, staggering fact is
that it doesn‘t require (skill or patience). The kids
are so normal, it’s almost funny."
Why is Scouting good for youth with disabilities? Well,
they have needs that Scouting can help fulfill and it
provides others with the opportunity to learn from their
attitudes. Scouting provides physical benefits and teaches
all of us "to recognize a crippling condition as normal and
in the nature of things.”
Pack 356 addresses the roles of the parents; the physician;
the youth; and teachers and advocates. Perceived
limitations may tell us more about us than the youth.
The Occonneechee council addresses other issues in leader
training sessions available to the unit.
Many of the tips on running a program and gaining help from
parents and others can be applied to a mainstream unit.
Some individuals may find it better to look for a unit
entirely composed of individuals with physical handicaps,
as facilities and leadership may be better equipped to deal
with the youth than mainstream units. Pack 356 leadership
can assist parents in finding this type of unit if it is in
the best interest of the scout.
There are a variety of disabling conditions that can affect
the potential scout: Cerebral Palsy; Muscular Dystrophy;
Muscular Atrophy; Spina Bifida; Heart Defects; Limb
Deformities; Epilepsy; Brain Damage; Down’s Syndrome;
and Diabetes are some of these that may require special
consideration from the Pack and its leaders.
Guidelines for membership and advancement provide an
explanation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how
alternative paths can be developed. A checklist of
abilities and limitations is provided and can be completed
by parents during the pre-joining conference.
BSA National policy grants accommodations by the unit for
advancement in the following statement:
Article XI, Section 3, Clause 19 of the BSA Rules and
regulations reads, in part: ...under such rules and
regulations as may be prescribed upon consultation with
appropriate medical authorities, registration of boys who
are either mentally retarded or severely physically
handicapped...as Cub Scouts..., and the participation of
each in the respective advancement programs while
registered, is authorized.
Wheel chair bound
Access
to all facilities and meeting places is wheelchair
friendly. Where special events limit the access of
wheelchairs, special advance notice should be provided to
allow the unit to accommodate for this.
Some outings may be arranged with special handicapped
facilities (such as campgrounds with paved access). Many
State Parks have built special facilities for the
physically handicapped, which can be used by the Pack for
outings. Leaders will make every effort to provide a safe
and accessible program for all boys.
Other
Handicaps
Pack 356
recognizes that there are numerous potential handicaps that
can afflict boys. While the pack cannot draft a program for
every individual situation, it is committed to complete
compliance with all National, Council and District policies
on this issue. As a Chartered member in good standing of
the Council and District, Pack 356 strives to uphold the
spirit of inclusion and fairness for all scouts.
Training
Aids Available
The
Boy Scouts of America offers many training aids to
leadership to help them deal with handicapped issues. Some
of these items available to Cub Scout packs are:
•
Cub Leader Book: No 33221B
Chapter 17
•
Closed-captioned
Cub Scout Fast Start: No. AV-01V022
•
Closed-captioned
Cub Scout Leader Specific Training: No. AV-01V013
•
Closed-captioned
A Time to Tell: No.
AV-09V004
•
AUDIO recordings of
the Cub Scout Leader, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos
handbooks:
o
National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Library of Congress,
800-424-9100
o
Recording For
The Blind & Dyslexic, New Jersey 800-803-7201
•
BRAILLE printings of
the Parent's Guide, Tiger Cub Activity Book, Wolf Cub Scout
Book, Bear Cub Scout Book, and Webelos Scout
Book:
o
The Lighthouse of
Houston, Texas, 713-527-9561
o
National
Braille Association, 716-427-8260
o
National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Library of Congress,
800-424-9100
•
LARGE PRINT of the
Parent's Guide, Tiger Cub Activity Book, Wolf Cub Scout
Book, Bear Cub Scout Book, and Webelos Scout
Book:
o
National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Library of Congress,
800-424-9100
More
Information
Additional
information and lists of literature and other aids are
available from the Boy Scout Division, Cub Scout Division,
and Council Services Division at the Boy Scouts of America,
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX
75015-2079.
Contact List
For more
information on how Pack 356 can assist in the inclusion and
fairness of scouting for all boys, feel free to contact:
Cubmaster………………………...Bill
Piazza………..919-557-1490
Assistant
Cubmaster…………….Kirk
Rice……….....919-557-7505
Pack Committee Chairman……..Rich
Allison….…...919-572-7990
Special Needs Policy Advisor…..Kirk
Rice……….…919-557-7505
Charter Organization Pastor…….Ross
Carter…......919-303-3720
Glossary
Advancement
–
Advancement refers to the progression in rank through the
scouting program. Advancement may include other awards such
as achievement belt loops, religious medals, or
conservation awards.
Blind
–
This term refers to individuals that are visually impaired.
Council
–
This is the chartered administrative body of the Boy Scouts
of America.
Emotionally Disturbed –
This term refers to the mentally handicapped individuals
with disorders that disrupt day-to-day normal activity or
interaction with others.
Handicapped
–
This term refers to an individual that has some type of
condition, either physical or mental, that limits their
ability to participate in day-to-day normal activity or
interaction with others.
Leader
–
This term refers to an individual in a registered
leadership position with the Boy Scouts of America.
Pack
–
This is the local unit of scouts and leaders chartered
through the Boy Scouts of America.
Scout
–
This is an individual boy registered in the Scouting
program.
Scouter
- This
term refers to an adult leader registered in the Scouting
program.
Scouting
–
This is a general term that includes all elements of the
Boy Scouts of America Program.
Training
Aid –
This is a manual, tool, or other item used to assist in the
training of Scouts or Scouters.