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Staten Island Academy Hosts “No Excuses” Symposium

Specialists from the education, handicapped and athletic communities will participate in a student-led discussion about “No Excuses,” a book by congenital amputee and wrestling champion Kyle Maynard.

September 5, 2006 – Staten Island Academy students in grades 9 to 12 will lead a discussion of how to thrive despite adversity on Wednesday, September 13 at 6:30 PM in the school’s Haugen Hall Theater. The discussion will be based on the book No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life by Kyle Maynard. The book was required summer reading for the students and their teachers. Specialists from the education, handicapped and athletic communities—including James. J. Weisman, Esq., Ed Lopez, Angela Mikalauskas and Dr. Mapy Chavez-Brown—will participate in the symposium discussion.

Since graduating from Seton Hall Law School in 1977, James J. Weisman, Esq., has represented disabled people and organizations of disabled people to enhance the quality of their lives and to protect and promote their civil rights. He has been general counsel for the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, now called United Spinal Association, for the past 28 years. In July 1995, he became a founding member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities, and in 2003 was elected chairman of the Board. In 1979, Mr. Weisman commenced a lawsuit against New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which was successfully settled in 1985. The settlement agreement resulted in an accessible bus network, accessibility at key subway stations through the installation of elevators, and the creation of a paratransit van service supplement. During the summer of 1989, he settled a lawsuit in Philadelphia that parallels the New York agreement. The transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act are based on the Settlement Agreements in New York and Philadelphia.

Wheelchair basketball star Ed Lopez competed in the 2006 NBA/National Wheelchair Basketball Association All-Star Classic. This is the fifth time and the third consecutive year that Lopez has been selected to play in the All-Star Classic. Mr. Lopez plays for the United Spinal Nets, a wheelchair basketball team co-sponsored by the New Jersey Nets and the Association. Lopez began playing wheelchair basketball in 1989 and competed in the inaugural NBA/WNBA All-Star game in 1998 in New York City. He is a 14-time Eastern Wheelchair Basketball Conference All-Star and a 10-time conference MVP. Off the court, he has participated in the Association’s annual Multiple Sclerosis Clinic and wheelchair basketball clinics for children with disabilities. In 2002, Mr. Lopez was honored by the Queens Borough President and her Task Force on Persons with Disabilities for providing outstanding service to people with special needs.

Angela Mikalauskas is the head varsity women’s basketball coach at Wagner College. She has been inducted into Kean College’s Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in basketball and softball. Ms. Mikalauskas provides motivational speeches about overcoming hurdles and taking sports to a higher level.

Dr. Mapy Chavez-Brown is an assistant professor in Wagner College’s Department of Education. Dr. Chavez-Brown specializes in special education and teacher development. She holds a Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Admission to the No Excuses Symposium is free and open to the public. The Academy is located at 715 Todt Hill Road, Staten Island. For more information about Staten Island Academy and its outstanding programs, visit www.statenislandacademy.org.

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Press Contact: Liz Campbell, 718-303-7813, communication@statenislandacademy.org