Our view: Sports program for disabled students is welcome – Winston-Salem Journal

A bill to renew funding for a pilot sports-participation program for students with disabilities is not just a welcome instance of bipartisanship. Its also a bit of legislation about which we can all feel good.

A 2015 bill passed by the state legislature provided up to $300,000 in annual financing for the 2015-17 budget years toward developing pilot, community-based, adapted sports programs for kindergarten through 12th grade. Based on a federal civil rights edict, it required equal access to extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities.

Two state representatives from Forsyth County, Democrat Ed Hanes and Republican Donny Lambeth, have filed a new bill to extend the program, providing up to $300,000 annually for the 2017-19 budget years, the Journals Richard Craver reported recently.

Hanes and Lambeths pilot program, like the one before it, is designed to develop specific strategies to overcome barriers to the participation of students with disabilities ... and incorporate a philosophy of personal empowerment for those students.

Physical education is important to all children, but particularly important to those with some disability with limited options, Lambeth told the Journal.

Lambeth couldnt be more right. Children with physical disabilities are capable and can benefit from physical education and exercise. This bill will help ensure their needs are met.

Because there are questions about the best approach, this bill provides funding for the department to work with a local district to develop a program and to monitor its effectiveness, Lambeth told the Journal.

Programs could be conducted in one or more local school administrative units, including local universities, community colleges and other community organizations, the Journal reported.

The cooperation exhibited here is no doubt informed by the best instincts of governing to improve the lives of our citizens. While some states like Texas are cutting resources for disabled children, we in North Carolina can see the benefit clearly, to the children, their families and to our society as a whole.

Kudos to these legislators, in these contentious days, for working together for the good of our states citizens.

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Our view: Sports program for disabled students is welcome - Winston-Salem Journal