American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs
American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs (AAASP) works in cooperation and partnership with existing agencies throughout the U.S. to establish program oversight, policies, procedures, and regulations in adapted sports.
History
AAASP was started in year of 1980 by educators within Georgia’s DeKalb County School System originate a volunteer–operated after–school adapted sports program for students with physical disabilities.
Then in 1995 Bev Vaughn is hired first full–time adapted sports program coordinator for the DeKalb County, Georgia school system.
Bev Vaughn changes the program’s focus from primarily recreational and non–competitive sports participation to emphasize opportunities for physical development in compliance with standards established by national adult disabled sport governing bodies, and interscholastic athletics for persons without disabilities.
Vaughn also develops the original model for competitive cross–disability sport participation and develops a program for training and certifying coaches. Additionally, she evaluates and modifies sport rules in order to accommodate youth athletes, and introduces the no–pass, no–play policy to put emphasis on academic standards for athletes.
In 1996 DeKalb County School System's adapted sports program becomes a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. The programe becomes known as the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs or AAASP, whitch fields five program sites (teams) in Georgia. The original AAASP adapted sports are wheelchair basketball, indoor wheelchair soccer, and track and field.
Student Eligibility
Eligible students are girls and boys who attend grades 1-12 and who have an orthopedic impairment as defined under federal law (IDEA). Examples of the types of disabilities served include students with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, amputee, muscular dystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta and other physical disorders. Students who have a visual impairment, are blind or sensory impaired are also eligible.
No-Pass/No-Play Policy
Students who are fully mainstreamed, partially mainstreamed, or attending special education classes and whose primary disability is physical or visual(either acquired or at birth) are eligible to participate. Students who are mainstreamed must adhere to the AAASP’s no-pass/no-play policy, adopted from the GHSA. Special Education students must adhere to their IEP (Individualized Education Program) goals. Students who register must have the maturity and ability to understand strategy and to apply standards employed for their safety.
==Administration==
In Georgia, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) recognizes AAASP as the governing and sanctioning body for interscholastic adapted athletics serving Georgia’s students with physical disabilities or visual impairments. Association membership is open to all Georgia school districts. A district may elect to collaborate with another school district or community partner, such as a local YMCA or Parks and Recreation Department. AAASP member programs must complete a yearly membership agreement and must keep current all seasonal association fees. In order for Georgia school districts and their partnering agencies to maintain membership, all adaptedSPORTS™ coaches and coordinators must attain AAASP certification in the adapted sport(s) that they coach, and certification from the American Sport and Education Program (ASEP) in coaching principles. These requirements apply only to coaches who oversee wheelchair handball, wheelchair basketball, power soccer, wheelchair football and beep baseball. High school track and field coaches must follow GHSA certification requirements.
==adaptedSPORTS™ Model==
AAASP employs athletics through a system called the adaptedSPORTS™ Model. This award-winning model is an interscholastic structure of multiple sports seasons that parallels the traditional interscholastic athletic system and supports the concept that school-based sports are a vital part of the education process and the educational goals of students.
The sports featured in the adaptedSPORTS™ Model have their origin in Paralympic and adult disability sports, however, they are innovative in that they are cross-disability in nature. AAASP has adapted these sports for the student-athlete based on their functional ability. By providing standardized competition rules, it is possible for the widespread implementation of an interscholastic adapted athletic system. Additionally, student athletes are developing the skills that can lead to participation at the collegiate, community and elite levels.
Team Composition
Teams are comprised of students from schools within a particular district or collaborating districts, sometimes referred to as co-opts. Student participants may be enrolled at their home school or another school in the district in which they have been assigned. The district will select a centralized, accessible team venue. All practices and home contests will be held at this venue. Depending on the number of eligible students, a district may elect to field more than one team in any particular sport. If this is the case, a second venue may be necessary.
AAASP has two divisions of play for its member teams - varsity and junior varsity. Teams are placed by AAASP in these divisions with input from the coordinator and coaches. This placement is based on many factors, such as the teams overall experience, years of play, and the functional ability of individual players.