The school administration has officially approved the requested accommodations to ensure a fair tryout process for Madison. We are grateful for the support that encouraged this decision and remain committed to monitoring her progress during the upcoming sessions.
March 30, 2017
Help Maddie get the accommodations she deserves to Tryout for Middle school cheer
Final supporters
Madison is a 13 year old girl with Down Syndrome who LOVES to cheer. She has cheered on an all star cheer team for going on her 10th year this year. She loves to cheer it is her Passion. Its Vital for Madison to feel that she a part of her school and her peers. She was inclusive when she was in elementary school and when she got to middle school she was forced into special ed.... So this is extremley important that she gets to have time with her normal developing peers. Madison tried out for Middle school cheer last year with no accomodations and needless to say she did not make it. I complained and tried to get something in her IEP for this and the school denied it and said it was not academic related.... I attended the parent meeting this year and voiced my concern to the Cheer sponsor and she said it would be exactly as last year bascially telling me she would not make it again. Im not asking for alot of accomodations but a video of what she will be judged on so we can work on it ahead of time and maybe a little more time than 4 days to get it perfected.... I love Madison and I really was not going to let her tryout this year as last year really hurt her confidence and it took a lot of privates at Cheer Athletics to help build her back up.... But if I dont let her tryout we have nothing to fight .... But if I let her tryout I feel as though Im setting her up for failure. Im hoping this Petition will show Coyle Middle school that having a special needs child on the team is both good for the TEAM and good for Madison. GISD has NEVER had a special needs child on any middle school or High school cheer team and we really want to change that for Maddie and for the others that come in behind her. Not every special needs child will want to cheer but for the ones that do they will hopefully not have to fight as much as we have. If you would like to help get maddie the accomodations she deserves to tryout for the team please sign here !! I dont know that this will change anything but hopefully it will bring the attention this topic deserves. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
March 11, 2017
March 9, 2017
The feedback from the community continues to reinforce the importance of inclusive opportunities for students like Madison. We are currently working on formalizing a request to the school board to revisit their stance on accommodations. Thank you for your sustained focus on this matter.
March 9, 2017
The petition has now reached one hundred signatures. This level of support provides meaningful encouragement as we prepare to advocate for Madison regarding her tryout accommodations.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 7, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
March 7, 2017
2,172 Comments
My daughter cheers for Platinum Athletics and her middle school team. There are two girls on her school team with different abilities and it is such a great opportunity for everyone! Please have a heart and do the right thing! Do the human thing!!!!
This is so sad. They are getting federal funding for their cheering program and therefore should have to allow special needs on the team. Any sports or after school activity that receives any federal money should have to include everyone in the school.
I'm a teacher of seven years and a cheerleading coach of 12 years. I'm sad that you even have to create this petition. This school should absolutely give your daughter accommodations for her Tryouts. I hope and pray they do the right thing. Best wishes.
I have watched her cheer on some of the biggest cheer stages in the country and the joy her and her team bring the crowd is something I pray you let every student, faculty member and parent watch at the games. You have not seen true spirit until you have!
What harm comes to the team if she cheers? What harm comes to her if she does not cheer? Traditionally Cheerleading as a sport has been one of the most inclusive sports for kids with special needs. Except for your squad. Why? #lethercheer
Go Maddie!
Hope she makes it ❤️
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The school administration has officially approved the requested accommodations to ensure a fair tryout process for Madison. We are grateful for the support that encouraged this decision and remain committed to monitoring her progress during the upcoming sessions.
March 30, 2017
Help Maddie get the accommodations she deserves to Tryout for Middle school cheer
Final supporters
Madison is a 13 year old girl with Down Syndrome who LOVES to cheer. She has cheered on an all star cheer team for going on her 10th year this year. She loves to cheer it is her Passion. Its Vital for Madison to feel that she a part of her school and her peers. She was inclusive when she was in elementary school and when she got to middle school she was forced into special ed.... So this is extremley important that she gets to have time with her normal developing peers. Madison tried out for Middle school cheer last year with no accomodations and needless to say she did not make it. I complained and tried to get something in her IEP for this and the school denied it and said it was not academic related.... I attended the parent meeting this year and voiced my concern to the Cheer sponsor and she said it would be exactly as last year bascially telling me she would not make it again. Im not asking for alot of accomodations but a video of what she will be judged on so we can work on it ahead of time and maybe a little more time than 4 days to get it perfected.... I love Madison and I really was not going to let her tryout this year as last year really hurt her confidence and it took a lot of privates at Cheer Athletics to help build her back up.... But if I dont let her tryout we have nothing to fight .... But if I let her tryout I feel as though Im setting her up for failure. Im hoping this Petition will show Coyle Middle school that having a special needs child on the team is both good for the TEAM and good for Madison. GISD has NEVER had a special needs child on any middle school or High school cheer team and we really want to change that for Maddie and for the others that come in behind her. Not every special needs child will want to cheer but for the ones that do they will hopefully not have to fight as much as we have. If you would like to help get maddie the accomodations she deserves to tryout for the team please sign here !! I dont know that this will change anything but hopefully it will bring the attention this topic deserves. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Updates
Reached 5,000 supporters
March 11, 2017
March 9, 2017
The feedback from the community continues to reinforce the importance of inclusive opportunities for students like Madison. We are currently working on formalizing a request to the school board to revisit their stance on accommodations. Thank you for your sustained focus on this matter.
March 9, 2017
The petition has now reached one hundred signatures. This level of support provides meaningful encouragement as we prepare to advocate for Madison regarding her tryout accommodations.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 7, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
March 7, 2017
2,172 Comments
I am a competitive cheerleading coach and I coach not only level 1-3 all star teams but I also coach our special needs team. Athletes with special needs can do more than anyone can imagine. You have to focus on their abilities not their disabilities.
My daughter cheers for Platinum Athletics and her middle school team. There are two girls on her school team with different abilities and it is such a great opportunity for everyone! Please have a heart and do the right thing! Do the human thing!!!!
This is so sad. They are getting federal funding for their cheering program and therefore should have to allow special needs on the team. Any sports or after school activity that receives any federal money should have to include everyone in the school.
I'm a teacher of seven years and a cheerleading coach of 12 years. I'm sad that you even have to create this petition. This school should absolutely give your daughter accommodations for her Tryouts. I hope and pray they do the right thing. Best wishes.
I have watched her cheer on some of the biggest cheer stages in the country and the joy her and her team bring the crowd is something I pray you let every student, faculty member and parent watch at the games. You have not seen true spirit until you have!
What harm comes to the team if she cheers? What harm comes to her if she does not cheer? Traditionally Cheerleading as a sport has been one of the most inclusive sports for kids with special needs. Except for your squad. Why? #lethercheer
Go Maddie!
Hope she makes it ❤️
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I am a competitive cheerleading coach and I coach not only level 1-3 all star teams but I also coach our special needs team. Athletes with special needs can do more than anyone can imagine. You have to focus on their abilities not their disabilities.