The Brownsville school district celebrated the enactment Wednesday of Zariah’s Law, legislation that requires the University Interscholastic League to provide students with disabilities greater access to competitive team sports.

The law elevates adaptive athletics to a level comparable with regular UIL athletics. It instructs the UIL to create an adaptive sports program available to public middle school, junior high school, and high school students in Texas. Under SB 776, UIL is required to adopt rules establishing eligibility requirements for participation and best practices for school districts to incorporate adaptive sports.

Read the full story here.

Zariah Zarate stands in front of the crowd with her father Sergio wearing a medal presented to her by the BISD athletics department Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.Zariah’s Law will create an inclusive sports program by the University Scholastic League to provide students with intellectual disabilities access to and opportunities in team sports. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Sergio Zarate, co-founder of Down By The Border, explains that through Senate Bill 776 children with intellectual disabilities will now have the same opportunities as others through an inclusive sports program Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Hanna Early College High School offensive coordinator Damian Vela holds up a poster of the inclusion pledge as he and football player Anthony Ambriz recite it Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
A video message from state Rep. Alex Dominguez of District 37 is projected on a screen above the stage Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.of District 27, explains his reason for getting involved with Senate Bill 776 to the crowd Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Zariah’s Zarate’s mother Dolores films the proceedings with her phone Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent, Dr. René Gutiérrez addresses the crowd Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Attendees watch a video presentation projected onto a screen above the stage Wednesday for a historic unveiling and celebration of Senate Bill 776 Zariah’s Law in the auditorium at Veterans Memorial Early College High School.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
RELATED READING:

Brownsville man led push for new adaptive athletics law

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR