“Let Them Swim”: Madison school cut disabled students from swim team, families want the district to reverse course

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Families at Madison West High School say students with disabilities were unfairly cut from the swim team. 

Asha Shukla is a senior at Madison West High School. She has Down syndrome. 

She’s been on the West swim team for two years as an exhibition swimmer. That means because of her disability, she’s a member of the team, just with some modifications. She has a reduced practice schedule, and doesn’t score points for the team when they compete. 

This year, the program has grown. Multiple swimmers were cut from the team, including Asha. 

During a school board meeting Monday, Asha’s parents said school staff told them Asha would have to try out for a spot, and be held to the same standards as every other swimmer. They said there would be no accommodations made for her disability. 

Her parents said to this point, the team’s coach had worked hard to make accommodations for Asha and other students with disabilities. They praised her for creating a culture of acceptance on the team. 

Supporters flooded Monday night’s meeting. There was over an hour of public comment, all of it focused on the swim team at West. 

“I am fast. I hold all-city records and school records across Madison,” Asha said at the meeting. “Being part of a team makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than me. A community.” 

The families say another student with disabilities was excluded, too. Aurelia Bergstrom is a freshman at West this year. She was set to be on the swim team, and her dad said they were told the same thing that Asha’s parents were. 

“There’s a silent, nefarious message being sent to all kids that those with disabilities are less than,” said Aurelia’s dad Charlie Bergstrom. “Potentially reversing all the work that the district, the staff at West in particular, that Coach Elmaker has done, to foster a culture that’s actually in line with the stated goals of the district.”

Her sister, a seventh-grader, said it devastated Aurelia. 

“My sister has been told for about three years that she was gonna be on the West High swim team. And she was the happiest ever,” Aurelia’s sister Lucia said. “I really think it’s unfair that they‘re even cutting people off from the swim team, because they made a bigger pool so more people could swim.”

A spokesperson for the district didn’t reply to WMDX News’ request for comment. However, he sent a statement to other outlets: 

“The Madison Metropolitan School District is deeply committed to ensuring that all students have access to safe, inclusive and welcoming opportunities in our schools. We understand the importance of athletics and co-curricular programs to the educational experience, and encourage involvement to the greatest extent possible. We are grateful for the continued partnership of our families and community in supporting student engagement and success.”

The families want the district to reverse course, and let the girls back on the team.