Albuquerque high school sets example of inclusivity in sports

WhatsApp IconJoin WhatsApp Channel
Telegram IconJoin Telegram Channel

WELCOME BACK TO TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE TOUGH FOR ANY STUDENT, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THROUGH AN EMPHASIS ON INCLUSIVITY. ONE TEAM AT VOLCANO VISTA IS STEPPING UP AT A SCHOOL WITH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. FINDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT FOR FRESHMAN HOPE TEBOE. BEING PART OF THE CHEER SQUAD HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. HOPE HAS ALWAYS LOVED DANCE, CHEER, PERFORMANCE AND SO WE THOUGHT THAT CHEER WOULD BE A GREAT SPOT FOR HER BECAUSE OF HOW SHE SHE WATCHES A LOT OF CHEER SHOWS. SHE SHE REALLY HAS AN AFFINITY FOR IT. YOU SEE, HOPE HAS DOWN SYNDROME, BUT THE IDEA TO CHEER WAS IMMEDIATELY MET WITH SUPPORT FROM VOLCANO VISTA’S COACHES WHEN HER DAD ORIGINALLY REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT HOPE, WANTING TO DO CHEER, I DIDN’T EVEN HESITATE. I TALKED WITH MY CO COACH, JEN, AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF A CONDITION CALLED APRAXIA. HOPE HAS LESS VERBAL COMMUNICATION. HOWEVER, THIS EXPERIENCE IS HELPING BOTH HER AND THE TEAM LEARN HOW TO CONNECT WHEN YOU BECOME PART OF A COMMUNITY, THERE’S A LANGUAGE THAT DEVELOPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE. AND SO I THINK THE CHEER SQUAD MIGHT BE LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HOPE AND HOPE IS LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. AS HOPE HAS GROWN OLDER, SHE WAS REALLY OUTGOING WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE, AND AS SHE’S GOTTEN OLDER, SHE’S BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE QUIET. AND SO I THINK THIS IS ONE WAY THAT SHE CAN EXPRESS HERSELF. AND SO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE HER DO HER CHEER, HER DANCE, IT MIGHT SEEM QUIET IN COMPARISON, BUT I AS HER MOM CAN SEE, LIKE THE CHEER GOING LOUD IN HER, IN HER OWN WAY. COACH BEESON HAS ALSO SEEN AN IMPACT ON THE REST OF THE SQUAD. PROBABLY ONCE A WEEK THEY’VE COME IN AND THEY’VE BEEN LIKE, OH MY GOSH. HOPE SMILED AT ME IN THE HALLWAY TODAY AND JUST GETTING TO SEE HOPE LIKE SHINE AND BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. IT’S WONDERFUL THAT THIS IS A SCHOOL THAT JUST THRIVES ON THAT. IT’S NO

Albuquerque high school sets example of inclusivity in sports

The transition to high school can be tough for any student, but especially for students with special needs. Through an emphasis on inclusivity, the Volcano Vista High School cheer squad in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is stepping up.One student, Hope, is living out her passion with the cheer squad. “Hope has always loved dance, cheer, performance, so, we thought that cheer would be a great spot for her. She watches a lot of cheer shows, so she really has an affinity for it,” said her father Billy Thiebaut.After speaking with head cheer coach Kedzie Beeson, this idea was immediately made a reality.”When her dad originally reached out to me about wanting to do cheer, I didn’t even hesitate. I talked with my co-coach, Jen, and we thought this would be a really good opportunity,” Beeson said.Hope has a condition called Apraxia, which limits her verbal communication. However, Hope’s mom, Laurie Magovern, has noticed that this experience is helping both Hope and the team find a way to connect.”When you become part of a community, there’s a language that develops between the people. So I think the cheer squad might be learning how to communicate with Hope, and Hope is learning how to communicate with them,” Magovern said.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

The transition to high school can be tough for any student, but especially for students with special needs. Through an emphasis on inclusivity, the Volcano Vista High School cheer squad in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is stepping up.

One student, Hope, is living out her passion with the cheer squad.

“Hope has always loved dance, cheer, performance, so, we thought that cheer would be a great spot for her. She watches a lot of cheer shows, so she really has an affinity for it,” said her father Billy Thiebaut.

After speaking with head cheer coach Kedzie Beeson, this idea was immediately made a reality.

“When her dad originally reached out to me about wanting to do cheer, I didn’t even hesitate. I talked with my co-coach, Jen, and we thought this would be a really good opportunity,” Beeson said.

Hope has a condition called Apraxia, which limits her verbal communication. However, Hope’s mom, Laurie Magovern, has noticed that this experience is helping both Hope and the team find a way to connect.

“When you become part of a community, there’s a language that develops between the people. So I think the cheer squad might be learning how to communicate with Hope, and Hope is learning how to communicate with them,” Magovern said.

Source
#Albuquerque #high #school #sets #inclusivity #sports

Leave a Comment