Dublin City Schools to start new ‘adaptive sports’ team

The Dublin City Schools plans to partner with other area school systems to field a team to compete in “adaptive sports” such as wheelchair basketball and wheelchair flag football.

“Something I’m super excited about is being able to offer adaptive sports through the Georgia High School Association,” Superintendent Fred Williams told the City Board of Education on Monday. “We want to start out as ‘Dublin City,’ but we’re working on partnering with other school systems within our RESA district to participate as well.

“What we’re trying to do is have a regional draw so other schools can participate with us as we go compete against the Houston Counties and others around the state, just to give kids the opportunity to learn life lessons through sports.”

Williams said he had been in contact with the GHSA for months and received a call Friday notifying the system of a grant “that will pay for the (wheel)chairs and that type of things.” However, any student enrolled in special education in grades six through 12 can compete.

“They don’t have to be wheelchair-bound. They just have to be in special education,” said Williams. The adaptive sports program will be funded for one year through additional money allocated by the Legislature. 

“The legislators put more money into the adaptive sports, and we’re were successfully able to get that through the GHSA,” said Williams. “They’re taking care of that this upcoming year for us.” 

The schools are “working on looking for a coach who will coach these teams.” he said.

The superintendent shared a story from his time as a physical education teacher to illustrate the positive impact that adaptive sports can have. Williams recalled using a trash can and “squishy ball” to enable a student with cerebral palsy to participate in a class on basketball. The student’s hands had to be massaged to open, and therefore clutch the call, and later to release the ball into the trash can. 

“That was ‘adaptive PE’,” said WIlliams. “The whole gym was cheering her name. When she put that ball in the trash the whole place erupted. And you could see the joy and excitement in her heart.”

Also at Mondaty’s meeting, the board:

• Voted to adopt the Centers for Disease Control’s updated guidelines on returning to work or school after COVID. The guidelines now recommended waiting until being fever-free for at least 24 hours.

• Approved the hiring of Crishauna Pryor as a systemwide substitute teacher.