A Special Goalie

My daughter, D, is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tourette's Syndrome. My daughter is sweet, sporty, polite, loving, empathetic, and determined. She works hard every single day to be the best version of herself. It hasn't always been easy, but she's come so far with a lot of hard work. 

Spring 2018: At 6 years old, D started attending a weekly Hockey Skills program through the City of Oshawa. She couldn't really skate very well, but she really loved playing anyway.

Summer 2018: D signed up for the next weekly Hockey Skills program. Closer to the end of the summer, there was a booth set up outside of her ice pad for the Oshawa Lady Generals/Oshawa Girls Hockey Association. They invited D to participate. I explained her struggles and they assured me that she would be able to participate.

Fall 2018: D started playing House League (Novice) with Oshawa Lady Generals/Oshawa Girls Hockey Association (OGHA), along with weekly Hockey Fundamentals training with OGHA, Hockey Skills with the City of Oshawa and Learn to Skate with the City of Oshawa. I was given the Trainer position for D's House League team.  I completed the Trainer certification, but was also already CPR/First Aid certified, as I am also a certified fitness instructor for the YMCA.

Winter 2019: D continued with House League, Fundamentals, Hockey Skills and Learn to Skate. I continued as the Trainer.

Spring 2019: The season ended (successfully- team only lost the last game, earning the silver medal).  D continued in Hockey Skills and Learn to Skate.

Summer 2019: D continued in Hockey Skills and Learn to Skate.

Fall 2019: D started on a new House League (Novice) team.  D stayed in Learn to Skate and Hockey Skills. As Fundamentals was placed at a different time that D could not attend, D attended a development session every Wednesday for only the first half of the season.

December 2019: D was offered the position of goalie with the lower skilled players (tiered, half ice games until mid January).  D loved it.  All of D's issues with transitions on and off the ice were solved.  Many parents approached me stating how well she was doing as a goalie. D fell in love with the game and the position and brags about it constantly.

January 2020: D was switched to another team, due to games changing to full ice and goalie needs changing.  New coach was very supportive and had no issues with D.  D then played her first tournament against players from across Ontario- this is significant because only their league was not allowed to have their best players due to a technicality that should not have occurred, and because of that, D had to endure a significant amount of shots on net and a big loss every game.  D persevered and received a player of the game award.

March 2020: Hockey is cancelled due to covid.

August - September 2020: D attended 8 Goalie Training Sessions with Puck Warriors Goaltending.

September 26, 2020: OGHA President, Lynne Dinsmore, confirms Trainer position for 2020/21.

Fall 2021: Hockey starts back up, with restrictions.  D joins the House League (Atom). I was approached by Howie McGregor stating that it was decided that I could not be a trainer because D's disabilities and the assumption that I would not be able to support D and the team at the same time, despite this never being an issue prior. There was also an allegation with D leaving the ice during game play, leaving the team without a trainer. This has never been true and has never been an issue. After much documented discussion, the support of the coaches, and Howie moving positions, I was reinstated as Trainer for the team.  

Jean Guy, the previous Director of House League, observed D in a perfectly successful practice and stated that they did not want to waste their money sending her for goalie development, like the other kids would receive, despite her active participation and hard work. 

Shortly thereafter, all Trainers were mandated by the league to be removed from the bench due to covid.  Lynne Dinsmore stated that this was mandated by the City of Oshawa, although I called the City to confirm and discovered this was not the case and that they would have had no issue with my being on the bench.  As we had the smallest team with the smallest numbers, I requested an exception numerous times, to no avail.  I requested discussion regarding support if this were to continue, and have been denied this conversation to date.  Instead of talking about supports, making an exception or making any kind of plan in this new situation, Lynne Dinsmore decided that the best course of action was to observe D playing without any supports for the very first time ever.

Lynne admitted that they did not have the knowledge or training to make decisions regarding support for D.

At this time, D was also receiving a new diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome and was in the process of changing medications.  After this observation, Lynne Dinsmore (and potentially others she works with) made the decision to remove me as Trainer, as they and coaches felt like my attention was too much on my own daughter (despite it being based on the first game ever without supports and every other game previous being absolutely fine to the point that she actually received a player of the game award again) and continued to refuse any discussion regarding D.  D's coach and I discussed an ear piece to communicate with D without the need to yell across the ice when the need arises, and we let Lynne know of this plan.  Lynne did not respond.

Winter 2021: Covid Stay At Home and Colour Coded orders meant no hockey until late February, where the return to hockey was for practices only.  D attended all practices, except one, without additional support on the ice. Meaning, I did not support her while on the ice and sat with the other parents. D was successful.

February 2021: D started a Day Treatment program through Kinark Child and Family Services, which she will be continuing until February 2022. Previous to this, she was attending virtual school which did not help her mental state.  She also was stabilized on new meds for her Tourette's. D is currently doing amazing, as her teachers keep telling me.

Spring 2021: I registered D as a goalie for the 2021/22 season, and volunteered as a Trainer.

Early Summer 2021: Lynne Dinsmore informs me that D's registration has been changed from Goalie to Player, citing safety concerns, despite the fact that she has refused all discussion regarding supports, has not once attempted to support her as a goalie, and ignoring the fact that the only time D was ever a potential danger to other children was as a Player due to all the transitions where she would melt down coming off the ice. Lynne again admitted she did not have the knowledge or training to make these decisions, yet made them anyway.

Summer 2021: D spent a week at Goalie Camp with Puck Warriors Goaltending, including 2.5 hours on ice daily and Goalie Mindset Training.  

September 21, 2021: This is when they will speak with me regarding support, but not reinstating her position.

At no point has any expert, other than myself, observed D to make recommendations for her to continue in her sport and/or her position.  It states directly in the inclusion policy of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association that:

1.7 The OWHA supports the participation of girls and women with disabilities and is committed to working with experts in various fields in order to provide a welcoming and safe environment.

1.10 The OWHA supports the right of its members, participants and staff to participate and work in an environment that prohibits discriminatory practices and promotes equitable opportunities.

D is entitled to the same basic rights as every other child in house league. This is not competitive, this is not rep, this is house league. D has worked hard to become a goalie ans is being denied the opportunity to prove it. No other child should have have prove their abilities to be able to play their position, but D has gone above and beyond to train to get the skills required to do the job. I have spent an incredible amount of money making sure of it.

Even though this shouldn't matter, D is also receiving services through Kinark Child and Family Services and is currently attending their Day Treatment program.  She also attended this program last Spring and will continue until February when she transitions into a new Day Treatment program through Enterphase.  This is intensive therapy where they focus on several goals, including focus and concentration.

I call on Hockey Canada, the OWHA and the OGHA to make this right and stop discriminating against my daughter because she has disabilities. The OGHA require proper training in disabilities and compassion so they can better work with parents of children with disabilities collaboratively to work for the best interests of the children and support them in their sport.

THIS IS HOUSE LEAGUE.  THIS IS NOT COMPETITIVE OR REP HOCKEY.  HOUSE LEAGUE IS FOR EVERY CHILD.  EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO PLAY.

I am a certified fitness instructor, a former hockey player for the Clarington Flames, an autism parent of 19 years, CPR/First Aid certified, Autism Spectrum Disorder certified through Kerry's Place Autism Services, and am currently employed with Kerry's Place Autism Services as an Autism Support Assistant undergoing several certifications including Personal Support Worker and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certification this month.  This is not a full list of my experience and education in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sports. If I thought, with all of this experience and education, that my daughter couldn't be properly supported to be safe and successful as a goalie then I would not fight for it. I know she can do this safely, she just requires the chance and the support to do so. The OGHA owes her that opportunity, just like they would any other child.  Her coaches and I have always beleived in her and it's time the OGHA do too.

** Please note, I have been removed from my Trainer position because of all of this.  One game where my attention was not properly on all of the children because of the mess of a situation we were placed in made it so they felt justified in stripping me of my position and title.  I spent most of three years having no problem until this one game where I tried desperately to discuss a plan BEFORE the game started and was refused.