Interesting article on Deaf Michigan Wrestler

[timamos]

http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/15303

[forthekids]

Tim,
I am curious to know your position on this. I personally do not think the ruling is out of line, I think for the most part he get the same as other kids. He should know to look to the corner every time there is match stoppage for instructions. I understand the part of other wresters can hear instruction but can he truly get it through interrupter in a split second. BUT then again I am fine with it as long he/she does not step on mat. SO I guess I see both sides. Really the part I don't get is how everyone takes it court. Cant we have common sense and just do the right thing.

[timamos]

I'm just a real estate lawyer so I don't have a great insight on the ADA but I recall it requires a "reasonable accommodation". Legally, having the interpreter in the corner is probably enough of a reasonable accommodation. In the heat of battle, the hearing impaired wrestler may have the advantage because he isn't distracted by some of the non-sense being screamed/other match whistles/etc. Thinking about when advice is commonly given, not having an interpreter is a disadvantage during the time it takes to set up in referee's position top/bottom (depending upon the level of competition). If I were coaching against the deaf kid, I would have no problem with the interpreter being allowed to roam around the outside of the cylinder during any stoppage, including the set up for referee's position.

I actually don't have a problem with them taking this to court to test the rule. The kid/parents/school aren't asking for money. They are not looking to hit the lottery via lawsuit. It's a good issue and I'm glad that they aren't clouding the issue by asking for damages.

Would be interesting to hear what Jeff Courtney or Greg Pettit think.

[admin]

Somewhat related, I remember when the WV Deaf and Blind school fielded wrestling teams. They used to have regional tournaments in Kingwood, and the Deaf/Blind team had blind wrestlers. The finger-touch method was used in the neutral position. As rule 6-2-4 states, "Contact is to be maintained throughout the match."

It occurs to me that this is a rather more significant codified accommodation than what some propose for hearing impaired wrestlers.

[coach_williams]

I guess if he is comfortable and used to having an interpreter on the sideline then I can see where it would be problematic for him. By the same measure, a non-hearing impaired wrestler has to look to the coach's corner and listen if he/she wants to know what the coach is saying and often the crowd is so loud that there is no way he/she can hear anyway, so I don't see why this young man should receive instruction from all areas of the mat.