Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1504285
44 / JULY.AUGUST.2023 USICERINKS.COM by COURTNEY FECSKE S katers with disabilities and/or health conditions may request reasonable accommodations to support their skating development in testing and competition. The Skating Accommodations Memorandum (S.A.M.) aims to provide supportive accommodations to skaters who are included under the Americans with Disabilities Act within the scope of competitions and testing. All skaters, including disabled skaters, should have equitable access to figure skating programming. Participation in sport and leisure activities has been linked to improved quality of life and overall physical and mental health. The process of seeking accommodations involves the skater or skater's parent/guardian completing the S.A.M. request form, which asks for the skater's name, age, described requested accommodations, a video of the applicant skating, and to include any pertinent medical information that is relevant to determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations for the skater. The S.A.M. request form can be found on the adaptive skating website or sent upon request from the adaptive skating national vice chair. The S.A.M. request form and any supplemental information is then reviewed and discussed amongst a specialized clinical team of individuals with expert medical and skating knowledge. The interdisciplinary clinical team is composed of individuals who are certified therapeutic recreation specialists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, medical doctors and school psychologists with experience working on the rehabilitation act and individual education plans, who are also former/current skaters and officials. Taylor Sivori, an occupational therapist and current skater, who has been a member of the clinical team since the S.A.M. started, said that "being on the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee's clinical team has been an exciting way to blend my love of figure skating and passion for occupational therapy. By utilizing my skills as an occupational therapist and my lifelong commitment to figure skating, I strive to support skaters with disabilities and create a more inclusive and equitable sports environment." THE S.A.M. HAS HELPED JUDGES UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE CERTAIN BALANCE ISSUES OR LACK OF SPEED, WHICH HELPS ME GET JUDGED ON MY ACTUAL SKILLSET. KEEYA STEEL, SKATER WHO USES A S.A.M. REAL PROGRAMS Successful programs to consider adopting PHOTOS: COURTESY OF US FIGURE SKATING Skating Is for Everyone! Meet S.A.M., the Skating Accommodations Memorandum