The American Special Hockey Association took to Capitol Hill
on Wednesday to brief Congress on the medical and behavioral benefits of their
hockey program.
ASHA is the world’s largest special hockey organization with
over 54 members in about 45 cities throughout the United States of America.
They strive to give children and young adults with developmental and physical
disabilities the chance to play hockey in an environment adapted to their
ability level.
In addition to physical hockey skills, the program helps to
emphasize the development of desirable characteristics from dependability, self-reliance,
concentration, willingness to share and personal accountability. The love for
the game helps to develop within each player as they strive to become more successful
both on and off the ice.
ASHA’s therapeutic style of programming helps to offer the
players an innovative way to manage their behavior. There are about roughly one
in 68 children in the US that have been diagnosed with some form of Autism
Spectrum Disorder, with about one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls.
As children with ASD grow older and approach adulthood,
without the special needs they received as kids, ASHA believes that they can
help take the lead and give them that opportunity. ASHA executive director,
Dave Chase presented that message in hopes that it can unite both houses.
As a part of American Special Hockey Day on Capitol Hill, players,
coaches National Hockey League ambassadors from ASHA took part in the hearings
with the House of Representatives and the Senate. The message they sent Congress,
entailed how hockey could be therapeutic to children and adults with physical
and developmental disabilities.
Chase said, “It was quite an experience for your average
Joe citizen to see how the corridors of power actually operate. The hearing in
the House was briefly attended by Pennsylvania Congressman, Pat Meehan, who is
a longtime hockey guy, referee and youth coach. It has been in his blood for a
long time, so he is really supportive of what we are trying to do here.”
NHL players, such as Washington Capitals captain, Alex
Ovechkin have become involved in the initiative as well. Ovechkin has held
annual clinics with the ASHA athletes.
Chase added, “The
results are measurable, which is very important in our community because as everyone
tries to deal with Autism Spectrum Disorder everyone is trying different
methods to be more successful with those borderline individuals that could fall
between the cracks, between your neurotypical students when they are kids and
your special needs kids.”
He continued, “There
is a line in the middle that is getting wider and wider, and programs like
ours, we are a purely therapeutic program. That is our main focus. Going outside
of that, if there is competitive play, if it is done within that confine, we
are OK with that. I like to call it compet-apeutic.”
In addition to the hearings, ASHA met with the staff members
of about 17 congressmen and senators, in hopes to garner support for their
efforts. Chase hopes that a bill sponsored by Senator Bob Casey of
Pennsylvania, will be introduced to both houses shortly.
Chase said, “It could
actually be a good time now. We may press forward more quickly than usual
because it is a bipartisan bill that is noncontroversial. What a better time
for the House and Senate to take a look.”
The organization which has been around for 16 years, felt
that both briefings and all 17 private meetings were successful and everyone
was eager and receptive to their cause.
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