Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 24, 1993                   TAG: 9306240319
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MAX MEADOWS                                LENGTH: Medium

BOY WITH DISABILITY CAN ATTEND 4-H CAMP

It seemed for a while that he might not be accepted for the program, but Virginia Tech Extension representatives decided Wednesday that he could handle the activities.

David, who will be entering the fourth grade at Max Meadows Elementary School next fall, has a hearing and speech problem, may appear uncoordinated when he walks and uses a wheelchair for long distances. He suffered from an accumulation of fluid in the brain after birth.

"We were told originally he was going to be a vegetable," said Judy Taylor, his mother. She became active in championing the rights of disabled children and has been named a governor's Gold Medal Volunteer for her work.

She also championed David and her older daughter, Kim, who overcame less severe problems with cerebral palsy. The family went so far as to move to Wythe County because it had an early-intervention program for disabled children.

She took David to physical, occupational, water, horseback-riding and speech therapy programs, refusing to give up on him. David never gave up on himself, either. Now he is an honor student.

"He's worked very hard and he maintains half and half A's and B's," his mother said. "David rode in the Bland 4-H horse show and got a medal under the handicapped division. . . . People see him as a normal child with a little disability."

When she filled out his application for 4-H camp, she noted that David did require limited aid. A misunderstanding occurred when she spelled it as "aide" and 4-H officials assumed he needed someone with him all the time.

They asked for clarification by a physician, who said that David would need help in tying his shoes, carrying his food tray and getting to places not accessible to wheelchairs. Meanwhile, his mother started filing discrimination suits aimed at closing the camp next week if David could not attend unconditionally.

Charlie Stott, public relations spokesman at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which covers Extension and 4-H programs, said David's application was never denied. Taylor said it had come back saying that she would have to be available herself to supply needed assistance.

"We have never said that he couldn't go to camp," Stott said. He said the only problem was in getting approvals from extension officials who were away this week at meetings and difficult to reach.

Once David's limitations and abilities were made clear to all those who had to give approvals, Stott said, the answer was that the officials were glad to have David attend. They felt it would be a positive experience not only for him but also for his fellow campers.

Stott noted that $150,000 was recently spent to make the 4-H center swimming pool accessible to the handicapped "so I certainly don't think there was any intent to deny this child access, or any other."

He said officials hope to make other camp facilities accessible to the handicapped. But David will now be demonstrating that someone with disabilities can be a 4-H camper right now.