At what point do you finally say: Sorry Kid, you can't play

Look at her great form. She's willing to sue, but no one has taken the time to show her how to shoot correctly. What bs.

She's one step away from being in a all Iron-Lung league. Poor kid, but Jesus, she can do what she's doing there in her backyard. Cute dog, though.

Feel bad for the girl but her playing with a dog and air tank or as the mom suggested 20 pound airtank on her back on a basketball court with other handicapped kids running around is putting the other kids and herself in severe danger.

Special Olympics typically offers a "skills" competition at basketball as well as a team competition. This person is appropriate for going into the skills competition from the information presented in the article (although the information is sketchy). To compete in Special Olympics you must pass a physical and other requirements.

The girl's air tank is only 4 lbs. Which makes me wonder why she needs a dog, but whatever. I fully understand not letting the dog on the court but if they offered to have the girl carry the tank I do not understand why Special Olympics wouldn't allow that.

How shitty will these parents feel if the entire school system discontinues the Special Olympics programs due to their lawsuit? How many kids will lose opportunities due to cut programs or a large settlement being paid. Hope they can sleep at night.

The article mentions that the Special Olympics said it was okay if the girl was an "inbounder". Seriously? Who thinks of this stuff?

Also, does the sentence "She wore that medal for weeks afterward." really need to be its own paragraph? Spare me the drama.

I am saying that in November 2012. See ya Obama.

Wow. This is insane. They really think it would be okay to have a DOG ON A LEASH out on a basketball court during a game? People, having a DOG ON A LEASH would tend to limit your activities. Sorry. If you have an affliction so bad that you need a DOG ON A LEASH with you at all times then you can't do a lot of things. I feel bad for the girl, but be reasonable and realistic. Sports might not be your strong-point.

Join the school paper, yearbook, science clubs, language clubs, math clubs, debate, chess club, student council, etc. etc. Perhaps an activity where a DOG ON A LEASH won't be a problem.

FD - Just once can you keep your hate shit to yourself and leave politics out of a thread? Thanks.

She should run one of the major marathons instead. If she'd feel good about competing in the Special Olympics, imagine how she'd feel when she realized that even as a handicapped girl who needs oxygen, she is able to beat a good number of the able-bodied sluggos "running" the NYC Marathon. Imagine the elation when she gimps across the line with her dog in 7+ hours and turns to realize that thousands of healthy individuals are still out there on the course.

Make sure you read some of the reader comments under the article.

Night Runner wrote:

FD - Just once can you keep your hate shit to yourself and leave politics out of a thread? Thanks.

Yeah, but you know he's right.

As the father of a child with a disability, it is really hard for me to say this... but she needs to work to improve this situation rather than be let on the team. Why don't they invent some sort of contraption that doesn't require a dog to be on the floor?

If it is 4 lbs, i am sure they could rig a camel back or something to carry the tank. Judging from the picture, the thing looks very small, almost like a hairspray can or something. I am sure they can work something out.

I fear they are babying this girl due to her disability. It is something that is VERY hard to avoid, but it is critical that you challenge your child rather than baby them. She is 17, she can figure this out (I am assuming her disabilities are physical, not mental).

I say make the girl create a device that she can wear that will not put others in danger. If she can design it and create it, let her play. Shit, let her play with a real pick-up team, not the special Olympics team (which is mostly comprised of children with mental disabilities, not physical, right?).

Dad2 wrote:

(I am assuming her disabilities are physical, not mental).

. Shit, let her play with a real pick-up team, not the special Olympics team (which is mostly comprised of children with mental disabilities, not physical, right?).

You make poor assumptions. Special Olympics is only open to people with mental retardation (or intellectual disabilities, interchangeable terms). This girl also has physical disabilities which is not uncommon.

I looked at the picture at the front and almost cried. Not of sadness, but inspiration. I wish I could let her know that her courage touched me. Honestly

Suing a charity because they don't let your child join in a running and jumping event with less medical and safety protection than her doctor evidently prescribes for her to sit, stand and walk with?

Really?

Castor Semenya and this girl's mother both need to be told, no, for different reasons, but related to forcing their ideal outcomes on others, regardless of how it disadvantages others.

You can always be sympathetic for an individual person, but to be wholly unsympathetic to others and the same time is not right.

I am very sympathetic to female 800 meter runners and Special Olympics, who seem like the actual victims to me, as these stories are being reported.

?????????? wrote:

Really,nothing against the kid, but when do you say enough?

Are we forgetting to teach kids that when they can't do something, they can find their talent or passion in other areas? And that life isn't always going to adjust to them?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-0831-specialolympics-20100831,0,4838183.story

Hard to know how any of us would react unless we had a kid with special needs, but I'd like to think I would not push the issue if my kid needed that level of assistance.

When they do the 800 in 1:52.

You guys must be kidding me. You have a girl who wants to participate in the special olympics. She should be able to play regardless of her dog. Everyone on this message board is f***ed up as well, do you assholes really have nothing else better to do than to bash on a teenage girl whose dreams of playing have been smashed? Shame on everyone here and I would never want any of you around a person of special needs because of ignorant bullshit just like this.

the inalienable Right to Life, Liberty and ridaculling the retarded.....or world class 152 800 guys.