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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Dad petitions MHSAA to change age rule



NSING, Mich. (AP/WZZM) -- A Michigan father seeking a rule change that would allow his son with Down syndrome to play football and basketball next season with an age-limit waiver testified before state lawmakers.
Dean Dompierre of the Upper Peninsula community of Ishpeming spoke Wednesday at a Senate committee hearing in Lansing with his son, Eric. They support a Senate resolution urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to adopt a waiver for students with disabilities.
"If 23 other states can manage such a procedure, Michigan should have the ability to do the same, and must" Dompierre testified.
The association would need to change its constitution stating students who turn 19 before Sept. 1 are ineligible to play sports for the full school year.
The younger Dompierre turned 19 earlier this school year. He started school late because of his disability.
The association did not testify Wednesday, but has said a majority of other schools want to preserve the rule. Dompierre believes association members were never given sufficient information about waiver options.
Upper peninsula lawmakers from both parties urged support for the waiver and the Senate'seducation committee voted 4 - 0 in support of it. It's a non-binding resolution that now heads to the full Senate.
Dean Dompierre has pursued a plan to provide an age waiver for his child, and other special need athletes for two years. Twice, the MHSAA has rejected it, and will consider the proposal for a third time, starting next week.
AP


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