"Let 'em Play" story and petition against MHSAA for Ishpeming student

Below is a great story about a local family's effort to advocate for their son and other students!
Written in the words of Dean Dompierre from Ishpeming, MI.

"My son, Eric, is a 19-year-old high school athlete with Down syndrome. Like many others with this condition, additional years of elementary education were required in order to build the academic foundation necessary for him to succeed like he has in regular high school classes. However, after an unsuccessful two-year effort by the Ishpeming School District to convince the MHSAA leadership to allow their member schools to vote on a proposal to allow waivers to their age regulation for student-athletes with such multiple handicaps, Eric at this time will not be allowed to compete in any athletics next year alongside his senior classmates.

We understand the need for an age limitation in high school sports. It protects younger athletes from competing against full-grown adults and ensures no team gains an unfair advantage by fielding a physically dominating player. However, neither of those concerns would be realized if a student with Down syndrome or similar multi-handicapping condition were allowed to compete for a full four years of high school sports.
At least twenty-three other state athletic associations across the country allow such waivers, receiving an average of four or five requests per year. It's unfortunate that the leaders of the MHSAA don't have the compassion to at least allow its member schools to vote on a reasonable process for granting such waivers. It makes the MHSAA as a whole appear to be discriminatory and unconcerned with the plight of handicapped students.

At this time the MHSAA leadership considers the matter closed and refuses to further consider the issue. While it may be too late for my son to get his chance to play, we hope that MHSAA member schools will encourage their leaders to reconsider a proposal to allow these young people the same high school sports experience as their classmates. No one benefits when we exclude them."

Thank you,
Dean Dompierre

In order to support Dean and his son, Eric's, petition to the MHSAA to play basketball, visit the website below to sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/mhsaa-allow-my-son-and-some-disabled-students-to-play-for-1-year-past-the-current-age-limit

To read more about the story, visit TV6's website below:

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=736256#.T4Ly4_vy_-8

To purchase a Let ‘Em Play t-shirt offered from Yooper Shirts, follow the link below:

http://shop.yoopershirts.com/product/let-em-play-lime-t-shirt

Thanks,

Chris Hart