By Laura Lane
The first game played locally, in the Levy-Lakeside gym in 1999, was a dream come true for the former Merrick Special Education PTA co-president.
Arnel believed that the game, which now serves as a SEPTA fund-raiser each year, would enlighten children and adults about people with disabilities and bring the community together.
The first game was so popular that the following year, SEPTA held it at a larger venue, Merrick Avenue Middle School. In recent years it has been played at Calhoun High School.
More and more people in the community wanted to see how parents, teachers, administrators and elected officials would do playing basketball in wheelchairs against a team of disabled adults, the Nassau County Kings, who beat them every time. Attending the SEPTA wheelchair basketball game has become, for many, an annual event, like attending Founder's Day or graduation.
The Merrick SEPTA and the Nassau County Legislature recognized Arnel for her efforts during this year's game on March 22. She said she was surprised and honored, but nothing made her happier than seeing the game played once again, with a variety of people from the community joining in the fun. "This has brought the community together and been an eye-opener to people who never had any contact with people with disabilities," Arnel said. "The fact that the game continues makes me proud, and it warms my heart."
Arnel, who has lived in Merrick for 19 years, saw her first wheelchair basketball game in 1998 in Baldwin. The experience was amazing, she said, with people from the community gathering to watch the game.
Eager to bring such an event to Merrick, Arnel approached Merrick school administrators. "Initially, I met with reticence," she recalled, adding that administrators were concerned about liability issues and the possibility that wheels would scratch the gym floor. ³They also didn't believe that they could charge for an educational activity -- this would teach what disabled people can achieve,² Arnel said. ³I decided that I had to overcome the response, and took it to the next level of the administration."
Arnel finally succeeded in obtaining the district's permission. The first game was packed. ³It was an eye-opening experience for those in the wheelchairs, which included teachers, parents, administrators and elected officials, and for the children to see the Nassau County Kings play basketball,² she said. ³It was so popular with everyone that the next year we had to turn away people who wanted to play on the team.²
Each year before the big game, the Kings visit the phys. ed. classes in the three district elementary schools, tell children what caused their disabilities and field questions. They even let the students try out the wheelchairs. "The children come home and talk about it -- they get so excited," Arnel said. "I think it teaches people that everyone deserves a chance in life and everybody learns differently. It teaches children to respect your classmate."
Beth Josephson, SEPTA¹s co-president in 1999, helped Arnel bring the game to Merrick. She admires Arnel, who, she said, is also her friend. "Bobbie has always been forward thinking," Josephson said. "If there were obstacles, she either found a way to go around it or jump over it. Her philosophy has always been that it's not the differences, it's the commonalties that make up the fabric of the district."
Outgoing SEPTA Co-President Marcia Pollock said that the organization decided to honor Arnel because she made a difference that is long-lasting and extraordinary. "I admire her for getting a program up and running like this," said Pollock. SEPTA doesn't "usually honor people, but Bobbie has done so much for our organization, and her daughter Lauren is graduating this year, so we thought the timing was right."
Josephson believes that Arnel's efforts have changed the way people in Merrick think about individuals who receive special-education services. "Bobbie didn't do all of this for recognition; she did it because it's the right thing to do, to get the whole community together," Josephson said. "She's just an amazing person. Bobbie performed magic."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
