We have just completed the Winter 2019 issue of Abilities Digest. It will be distributed to the email list shortly. abd-v06n2r5Download Here is a summary of the contents: Welcome our new National Committee Chair, Warren Wenner.Training opportunities at Seabase this winter and Philmont this spring.Philmont offers a new experience for Scouts with special needs.Dori Hammer... Continue Reading →
The Communications and Inclusion activity at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree collected hundreds of written comments from participants all over the world. Volunteer Jennifer Allred has curated this collection and is posting them - with English translations as needed - to the "Unlock a New World through Inclusion" Facebook page. The comments provide a truly... Continue Reading →
Volume 6, no. 1, of Abilities Digest is now available. Here is a summary of the contents: Adapting Activities: The Chief Scout Executive speaks on Scouting with disabilities and special needs; summer activities for Scouts with special needs. Enhancing Awareness: Revised Special Needs and Disabilities Introduction now available; Philmont training program on special needs... Continue Reading →
The national office has released a slightly revised version of the "Introduction to Working With Scouts with Special Needs and Disabilities," item #510-071. It is now available on this web site and should also be available from the Disabilities page of Scouting.org.
The COPE course was not the only focus of disability adaptations at Philmont Training Center last summer. Instructors and participants in the DIVERSEability and DisABILITY training course experienced several other adaptations. Long-time PTC instructor Scott Hellen (on left) was pleased to find the classrooms already prepared for individuals in wheelchairs. In a previous summer the PTC... Continue Reading →
Here is Volume 5, Number 4 of Abilities Digest. Highlights include: Adapting Activities: DisAbility adaptations for the COPE Challenge and course experience at the Philmont Training Center. Adapting Advancement: Perspectives on advancement as a method, not a mission, and on achievable challenges. Recognizing Abilities: Every council may present a Torch of Gold Award annually; Nominations for the 2019 Woods... Continue Reading →
The Seabase conference has been canceled for January 2019. Come and join us in the beautiful Florida Keys to learn how to work with Scouts with disabilities. We are offering the volunteer training conference Diverseability and DisAbilitiy – How to Apply Proper Methods in Scouting with Special Needs When: January 13-19, 2019 Where: Florida Seabase It's a... Continue Reading →
The BSA’s National Disabilities Awareness Subcommittee has a Resources Task Force that maintains lists of resources to help Scouts and leaders address special needs and disabilities. Lists of web site links and mobile apps have been posted to the AbleScouts.org web site under the “Tools” menu. A list of helpful websites is at ablescouts.org/tools/ndas-links/. A... Continue Reading →
Bipolar disorder is one of many special needs that we need to understand in Scouting and in life. The negative side of a bipolar individual can be frightening and this prejudices many against anyone with bipolar disorder. Psychological and medical help can control bipolar behavior. Unit leaders can’t automatically exclude anyone based on a disability,... Continue Reading →
