My friend's son, a paralympic wheelchair athlete in Anchorage, AK, has experienced a significant sense of belonging and community due to his involvement in Challenge Alaska wheelchair sports within the Anchorage School District. However, recent changes to the rules have precluded him from continuing to participate despite having been a part of the team for the past two years. 

These changes have tied participation in sports like these to a student's GPA, excluding our Life Skills students from taking part. This means a student who, due to circumstances beyond their control, is categorised as a Life Skills student, now cannot participate in paralympic wheelchair sports. Challenge Alaska says that this policy is due to Anchorage School District, but the school places the blame for the change squarely on Challenge Alaska. It's troubling that the very system that should be enabling access and empowering these students is, in fact, limiting their opportunities, and more troubling that neither entity designed to ensure accessibility are willing to take accountability for the decision that was made to exclude some otherwise capable disabled students. 

Across the United States, approximately 20.1% of people had a disability in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among these, many are school-going children longing to participate in activities bolstering their life's experiences. Sports, paralympic wheelchair sports in particular, provide an incredible opportunity for physical and social development — and every student should have a chance to participate.

In the Anchorage School District, we call for a revision of this problematic policy. Our demand is simple but vital: allow all students to participate in paralympic wheelchair sports, whether they are Life Skills or Diploma track students. We assert that their ability to learn, experience joy, and challenge themselves should never be limited by the criteria they can't control. Join us in asserting the rights of these students in Anchorage School District. Sign this petition.