BISD Special Olympics program takes exception to Herald report

My name is Juan David Lucio. I am the head coach and head of delegation for the BISD Special Olympics Program. I work at Special Services, my administrator is Art Rendon and my immediate supervisor is Sandra A. Powers.

Special Olympics Texas is based in Austin and is a non-profit private organization whose teams are mainly coached by volunteers throughout the state - with the exception of Rio Grande Valley districts who have followed the BISD lead to commit to offering Special Olympics programs in their districts.

Our school district, in an effort to provide our athletes with disabilities the best opportunity to participate in an athletic program, has hired coaches and district staff, which were chosen by each individual campus principal to supervise their own campus teams.

Following the Local Special Olympics Program guidelines, principals and their coaching staffs make all final decisions regarding staffing, participation at the State Games, ordering supplies and parental involvement - just like the regular athletics program. Parents are encouraged to support their children and receive information from their coaches through parent meetings and notices.

Over the last eight years in which I have been involved with the Brownsville ISD Special Olympics program and under the supervision of Ms Powers and support of the principals, our delegation has grown from approximately 60 athletes to more than 300 athletes today. When we started over eight years ago, we had a handfull of paid employees to supervise our athletes. Ms Powers made sure that we now have a coach at each middle school and at least two coaches in each high school and at the Triple T, our program which is under the auspices of Hanna High school.

In the past, the BISD Special Olympics teams were known in the Valley as the Brownsville Hurricanes and wore t-shirts and shorts to all competitions. Ms Powers made sure the budget was increased so that each athlete would wear a uniform that corresponded with the school they attended, just like their non-disabled peer athletes. Although we are registered with Special Olympics Texas as (Bro 01) each team now is uniformed in their school colors and proudly displays their school's mascot. High School bowling teams wear authentic pearl button bowling shirts in the fall. When BISD high school athletes go to the state Winter Games they are by far the largest and best dressed team. In the spring when it is time for track and field events, all high school and middle school teams wear custom-made track singlets, shorts, underarmor and wind suits. Ms Powers has made sure that Special Olympics athletes get equal opportunities to purchase supplies and equipment to represent their campus as their non-disabled peers in regular athletics. Because our program continues to grow and we get new athletes all the time, our budget has to be adjusted from time to time to meet the campus needs for their teams and for the increasing number of students who qualify for the State Games.

Under the supervision of Ms. Powers our budget for BISD Special Olympics has grown from approximately $20,000 per year to about $450,000 this year. We have gone from sharing one charter bus to attend the state games to now having six charter buses and a BISD lift bus to escort us in case there is a lift malfunction in one of the charter buses, which unfortunately seems to happen from time to time. When we first went to the State Summer Games we needed only about five rooms. Today, I worked on securing 55 hotel rooms, with eight of them being ADA handicapped accessible rooms for the State Summer Games in Arlington on May 21-24.

The local program procedures require the High School campus administrators and their coaches to determine who will attend the state games. Principals meet with coaches and follow BISD procedure in determining what athlete, para-educator, nurse, and/or parent will attend the state games. Since the implementation of Special Olympics more than 15 years ago, parents of athletes who require assistance in bathing or feeding have the option to attend the state games to assist with their child in these areas. This practice is still in existence today. Mostly it was athletes who use wheelchairs and have limited movement in their arms and legs that had their parents attend the state games with them.

We have weekly coaches meetings so our coaches can always be updated on everything that is due and anything that has changed. Our coaches are expected to act in a highly professional manner and are expected to communicate that message to their para-educators and staff who work with our athletes.

Last week, our Special Olympics program was attacked unjustly in The Brownsville Herald. The Herald should be ashamed of itself for publishing such an ill-informed article. They never investigated our side of the issue. The people who brought this fictitious information to the Herald should be ashamed of themselves for using the name of one of our Special Olympics athletes to taint the image of people they don't like. If there are adults among you who have issues and hatred toward each other, why bring innocent children into your turmoil? If there is anyone who stood on the sidelines last week and approved of this erroneous article, then shame on you, too. You didn't represent me or our BISD athletes, coaches and campus administration or the BISD!

Finally, after the article in the Herald came out last week, our department asked Special Olympics Area 1 Director Gloria Cruz to check Brownsville ISD's status with Special Olympics Texas in Austin. After she and the state office for Special Olympics investigated our current status, she sent an e-mail May 1 to the district, which stated the following:

"Per your request, as of today and to the best of our knowledge, the Brownsville Independent School District delegation (BRO 01) is in compliance and in good standing with Special Olympics Texas. You may contact the Area I Director, Gloria Cruz for more information."

J. David Lucio, BISD Special Olympics Head Coach (Head of Delegations)