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Parent and pediatrician urge MMSD to maintain swim-team inclusion for student with disability
Summary
A local pediatrician and parent told the Madison school board that his daughter was removed from guaranteed placement on the West High School swim team unless she meets a tryout standard, and urged the district to convene an IEP meeting and adopt clearer inclusion policy for athletics.
A Madison pediatrician and parent urged the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education on Aug. 25 to protect inclusion in athletics after his daughter was told she must meet tryout standards to remain on the West High School swim team.
Charles Bergstrom told the board his daughter, Aurelia, had been offered a spot on the West swim team and that coaches had previously discussed accommodations. "Through Aurelia's participation in summer swim, her swim times are known by the coaches at West," Bergstrom said. "They don't match JV or varsity times because of her disability. But many students in athletics are not the leading scores. They still benefit from and contribute to the team. That is exactly why these protections exist so students are not excluded on the basis of disability-related performance differences."
Bergstrom said the district and state and federal education agencies require reasonable modifications unless a modification fundamentally alters the sport. He asked the board to convene an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to review accommodations, and to adopt clearer policy protecting students whose disabilities affect performance benchmarks.
"To cut her now would devastate her transition into high school and undermine the inclusive team culture her peers are prepared to embrace," Bergstrom said. He added that national data show lower sports participation among students with disabilities and said MMSD could be "a unified champion school district" by clarifying policy and practice.
The public comment came during the board's public input portion; board members did not take a formal vote on the matter during the meeting. Bergstrom referenced guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Education regarding equal opportunity and reasonable modifications in school athletics.
Ending: Bergstrom asked the board to act on the matter and said the district could lead by bringing Aurelia's case to an IEP team and clarifying district policy so other students with disabilities will have consistent access to sports opportunities.
