Bill > H404

This bill, concerning athletic activities of students with disabilities, aims to ensure that students with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in school athletic programs. It defines key terms such as "adapted program" (a program developed for a student with a disability), "mainstream athletic program" (regular intramural or interscholastic sports), "mainstream physical education program" (the school's standard physical education curriculum), and "unified sports or inclusive program" (a program designed to combine students with and without disabilities). The bill mandates that school districts must provide students with disabilities an equal chance to join regular physical education and athletic programs, offering necessary modifications, aids, or services to facilitate their participation. It also requires that adapted programs or unified sports be available. Exceptions to these requirements can be made only if a student's inclusion poses an objective safety risk or fundamentally changes the nature of the program. Furthermore, school districts must consult with various stakeholders to offer unified sports programs in different settings, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association may establish interscholastic programs for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities participating in unified sports and may require coaches of these programs to undergo specific training.