High school sports: OSSAA director says organization emphasizes fairness, safety

He says the organization will continue to highlight those focal points following Friday's release of guidelines by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights clarifying schools' legal obligations to provide equal access to student-athletes with disabilities.

“We understand the value of participation for all of our students, and the value that it adds to their educational experience,” Sheakley said. “We're going to work with the Department of Education to enhance the opportunities for all our students, including those with disabilities.”

The National Federation of State High School Associations came out in support of the guidelines as well.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act grants students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in their schools' extracurricular activities. According to the Department of Education's release, a 2010 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that many students with disabilities are not afforded an equal opportunity to participate in athletics, and therefore may not have equitable access to the health and social benefits of athletic participation.

The guidance letter provides examples of the types of reasonable modifications that schools may be required to make to existing policies, practices, or procedures for students with intellectual, developmental, physical or any other type of disability.

Examples of such modifications include:

*The allowance of a visual cue alongside a starter pistol to allow a student with a hearing impairment who is fast enough to qualify for the track team the opportunity to compete.

*The waiver of a rule requiring the “two-hand touch” finish in swim events so that a one-armed swimmer with the requisite ability can participate at swim meets.