CSUSOP - Americans with Disabilities Act
On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) had a public hearing, “The Future of Olympic and Paralympic Sports in America,” in Washington, DC.
Eight years ago, on July 17, 2015, Edwin Moses, CSUSOP Commissioner who is Chairman of the Laureus Sport, wrote for HuffPost:
On July 26, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law that redefined how people with disabilities should be included in many facets of everyday American life, including sports programs. While our progress in these 25 years is incredible, the lack of access to quality physical activity and sports programs continues to create significant problems for people with disabilities in America.
At the hearing, Moses and 8 Commissioners listened to the opening remark of Jeff Mansfield, President of the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF.)
“Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is not an explicit criterion for certification. While some NGBs [National Governing Body] have implemented policies and initiatives better to serve Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing athletes, US Soccer, for example, fully funds the USA Deaf National Teams under the extended national team programs. Others have not.” Mansfield said, “Consequently, we have a sports landscape where ADA compliance is piecemeal, inconsistent, and neglected in reality; discrimination, abuse, and mistreatment take place at every level, from grassroots youth sports to high-performance sports.”
Now it is my turn!
United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC)?
Today’s question is whether the USOPC has complied 100% with the ADA law at the current time. I hate to give you the answer, but I have to say NO! However, I could say YES only when the USOPC’s compliance had reached 80%.
What is wrong with the 20%?
On July 19, the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) released a statement about the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. It states:
“Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act continues to exclude the Deaflympics in its mandate. The Act has also never been reviewed through the lens of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the USOPC currently does not include ADA compliance as a criteria its National Governing Bodies must meet for certification.”
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, which owns the Deaflympics, has been affiliated with the International Olympic Committee since 1950 (Seventy-three [73] years ago.) Please read the recent news.
In her chapter “The Increasing Role of Disability Issues in U.S. Sports Law,” of a resourceful book titled “The Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law (2017),” CSUSOP Co-Chair Dionne Koller (pictured) wrote, “[The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990] prohibit discrimination and have been interpreted to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in sports.” She paused, “An individual is disabled within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1).)
Google if a person who is deaf or hard of hearing is a qualified individual with a disability under the ADA.
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum (USOPM)?
I just wanted to remind you that this nonprofit Museum operates separately from the USOPC. However, it is licensed as “Olympic” and “Paralympic” and is part of the City for Champions development project in Colorado Springs.
After visiting the USOPM eight times since May 2021, I could say 95% of the USOPM’s ADA compliance. However, I agree that it is 100% in accessibility, such as accessible media, audio descriptions, wheelchair accessibility, tactility, open captioning and American Sign Language interpreter, low-sensory experiences, certified service animals, and additional accessibility services. Click the USOPM Accessibility and Universal Design.
The 5% is the lack of the Disability Rights wall exhibit, although the USOPM has the Black Matter wall and the LGBTQIA+ wall on the second floor. So museum visitors need to learn about the inclusion of the Paralympics in the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
Deaflympics in the USOPM?
Nope, but the Museum could add the Deaflympics only if Congress would include the Deaflympics in the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. So, the consideration is up to fourteen CSUSOP Commissioners.
“Really my big goal, my big focus is, of course, to get a medal,” Deaflympian Justina Miles said before participating in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil. “I mean, I’m really excited for the relays because I’m a big team player. I’ve never been an individual player. There are individual sports for people who are so fast, but the relay, that’s the part that I’m with, is such a team.” [Watch the video to find out who Justina Miles is lately.]
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