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Local swim program leader tells New Caney ISD board inclusion efforts "changing lives" for students with disabilities
Summary
A public commenter, Allison Shaker, described how the district-area swim program supported students with hearing impairments and autism, cited volunteer contributions and partnerships with high school culinary programs, and said the group requested funds for starter flashes for hearing-impaired swimmers.
Allison Shaker, who identified herself as president of East Montgomery County, told the New Caney ISD Board of Trustees during public comment that the district-area swim program sent a record number of swimmers to season invitationals and is working to include students with disabilities.
"We truly believe what we are doing over there is changing lives, from the bottom of our hearts," Shaker said, praising junior coaches, volunteers and partnerships with high school culinary departments that staffed concession stands and provided hands-on work experience for students.
Shaker said the program sent 24 swimmers to one invitational and 72 to an all-star event (numbers as stated at the meeting) and that the program brought more than 600 swimmers and their families from the Tuscany area, Eagle Springs and Summerwood into the district for events. She reported 14 junior coaches who collectively provided "over 1,500 hours" of volunteer service within the New Caney area.
Shaker described a recent effort to secure funds from the county administration last year to buy a starter flash device so hearing-impaired swimmers would receive the visual start signal when the starter says "go." She described a swimmer named Audrey who lost hearing after a traumatic incident and, with support from coaches and family, was able to compete after taking out her cochlear implants; Shaker said Audrey showed steady improvement each week.
Shaker also described meeting a mother, Mandy, who has five high-school-age children with autism and said one of Mandy's sons, Brian, feels comfortable participating at the district natatorium.
Shaker thanked district staff, coaches (including Coach Funk) and a guest she identified as Jim from Oregon for their assistance and asked the board to acknowledge the program's community impact. These remarks were made during the public-comment portion of the meeting; the board did not take action during public comment.
