Guidance about disability awareness topics.
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 list of helpful applications appears at ablescouts.org/tools/ndas-apps/.
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, especially if a youth member’s parent. Instead, leaders should find out how well the behavior is controlled. Bipolar disorder, like other disabilities, shows different degrees of affliction. Individuals should know where they fit on this scale. This keeps Scouting open to the family where practical and ensures the safety of other youth members.
Councils have tools available to estimate the number of Scouts with disabilities they serve. Three Fires and Erie Shores Councils have conducted surveys over the past few years to quantify and understand the breakdown of Scouts with disabilities within traditional and special needs units. This information helps the council Disabilities Awareness Committees improve service and support the Scouts, parents and volunteers. A one-page survey was included in the re-charter packets for each unit within each district of the councils. Specific objectives include:
Volume 5, Number 4 of Abilities Digest is now available online in PDF. It will be distributed to email subscribers in the next few days. Here is a summary of the contents:
Here is the Spring 2018 issue of Abilities Digest, volume 5, number 2. It will be distributed to email subscribers in the next few days.
Here is the Abilities Digest, Spring 2018 issue. We expect it to be distributed to mailing list subscribers soon.
Here is a link to the latest edition of Abilities Digest. We have been having difficulties with Abilities Digest distribution. The Fall issue is extra large to accommodate materials intended to be published earlier this year.
