1st Autistic Athlete* Qualifies for the RIO GAMES.... TEAM USA DENIES ADA Request that would Allow Him to Compete in RIO.
- by: Julie Hadden
- recipient: Team USA, USOC, USATT
Ben represents all of the kids with Autism, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Epilepsy, and other "Hidden Disabilities" in his endeavor to compete in the Rio Games. Because he is low income (his only income is SSI), it seems that Team USA thinks that they can push him around because he has an intellectual disability and cannot afford an attorney. We were told by many, many attorneys that it was a definite discrimination case, Ben just cannot afford to pay for the 230.00 per hour for the attorney. Click here to donate to Ben.
If the USOC and Team USA treat Ben this way, they will treat your child/brother/sister/family member this way when they reach this level! 99% of the athletes are professors, doctors, professionals, but now there is this new class of athletes with an intellectual disability and they are being bullied and cheated and they don't even know it.
Help Ben spread the word about this discriminatory treatment! Ben won a gold medal and received 1k in help for equipment, however, another athlete gets more than that per month plus medical benefits and college benefits both of which were NOT offered to Ben).
Ben has been ordered to travel against medical advise (without his medically necessary attendant and emotional coach) and literally risk his life or forfeit his place in RIO!!!!!. A right that HE EARNED!! Not exactly with their help! Team USA pays for the whole team to travel all over the world down to taxi's etc., yet they will not pay for Ben to travel with the team. Ben CANNOT travel without his medically trained attendant/emotional coach as it is medically necessary just as the special wheelchairs that the other athletes have. They tell Ben to pay for his attendant's food, lodging, and airfare (out of his SSI) for the 3-4 trips the team takes every year??? I am trying to get something passed so NO ATHLETE that has special needs OF ANY KIND ever has to go through this emotional bullying and discrimination that Ben has gone through. It has affected his health as Rio is so important to him and they keep throwing curve balls at him.
By signing this petition you agree that all athletes deserve to compete with the necessary ADA accommodations and that you WILL NOT FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE USOC, the USATT, or TEAM USA in any manner until such a time that Ben's issue gets resolved and a Statute be added to the "rules and regulations" that govern the USOC and Team USA's NPC's which all athletes with Intellectual Disabilities will be treated with the SAME respect as other athletes and the expenses required for them to travel with the team will be covered in full (including their attendant).
*known
Dear Team USA,
It has come to my attention that the first known Autistic Athlete to qualify for Rio plays for the USA! Congratulations! However, it has also come to our attention that Ben Hadden (the lucky athlete) has been DENIED a BASIC request to have his Emotional Coach/Specially Trained Attendant travel with him.
Since Ben is Autistic and cannot speak up for himself, we are speaking up for him! We are writing to tell you that until Ben is very satisfied with the manner in which he gets to go to Rio (i.e. with his attendant, expenses paid, stay in the athlete's village, etc.) and removes this petition, we will not be contributing any money to your organization or it's subsidiaries (USOC, USATT, Team USA). In addition, an additional article/act must be added to protect intellectually disabled athletes from being bullied and facing the emotional trauma that these athletes face from the rejection they feel from being left out of team events. Accross the board, all intellectually disabled athletes will have all expenses paid for including their attendants as deemed necessary by their doctor when traveling to team events. No intellectually disabled shall be left behind or be asked for money to cover ANY expense.
Kind regards,
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