< Previous18 | There can be a lot of late surprises when it comes to travel, but for Charleston Southern assistant director of athletic communications Hannah Allison, she got a surprise the night before the 2018 CoSIDA Convention that has become her sidekick. Just a month before the annual event, Allison’s seven-year-old dog passed away from cancer. “She was everything to me, so losing her felt like I lost a part of me,” Allison said. But, that didn’t stop her mom from trying to fill the void. The night before the CoSIDA Convention was slated to begin in Washington, D.C., Allison and her mom drove to Catawba, North Carolina, where they would meet Bear, a golden retriever. And the rest, as they say, is history. So, with the convention set for the next day, how was Allison going to handle this new addition to her life? There was only one option — bring Bear socks to wear on our wedding day. Evie and I continued to be best friends until we had to say goodbye to her in November 2015. Thankfully, we had someone else to fill the void — our beagle mix, Piper. Just four months before Evie’s passing, my wife and I went to PetSmart to get some cat food. While we got that cat food, we went home with a lot more as we adopted Piper that very day and took her home. If you think Evie didn’t like humans, try bringing another animal home. It was a very interesting time with the two of them together. Piper has provided us with so much love and enjoyment over the last five years, and especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic going on. Now that I am working from home, Piper and I have a routine of going for a walk in the morning and another one in the afternoon. It’s just our time to hang out. In addition, Piper gets even more belly rubs and snuggles than normal. My wife and I say on a daily basis we don’t know what we’d do without Piper and we never want to imagine a day without her. I’m not the only one whose pet has provided comfort during this pandemic. Here are some other stories about how people in athletic communications met their furry friends and how they have helped them during this time. with her. Instead of flying to the convention, she hopped in the car with Bear and drove to the convention where he would meet several colleagues and strangers that weekend. Bear got to see the sights of our nation’s capital during the trip and enjoyed his first human food experience with some frozen yogurt and apple slices from the Chart House in old town Alexandria. While Allison was getting some professional development work done at the convention, Bear went through some development of his own with some puppy training along with spending time with some of his new owner’s family members. In fact, it’s become a family tradition. Bear also attended the 2019 CoSIDA Convention in Orlando and was slated to make the journey with his human friend to Las Vegas for this year’s event. Bear has become Allison’s travel buddy — where she goes, he goes. The Bear Necessities Hannah Allison (left) and her dog, Bear, enjoying his first CoSIDA Convention in Washington, D.C., in 2018 with Kelli Bonner of Lynn University. Hannah Allison’s dog, Bear, has been known to visit with Charleston Southern’s softball team during practices and games.CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 19 didn’t have to change his name since he was already named Wilson when they rescued him, but that was fine with them since they could recognize former Pirate shortstop Jack Wilson. However, the family was able to extend their love for the Pirates when they began calling him Willie, a nod to the late Willie Stargell. And the Smiths’ love of baseball has gravitated to the dogs. “Our dogs will literally sit and watch baseball with us,” said Smith. “When I drive by a field with Ranger, he freaks out trying to jump out of the car to go there. “During the Pirates’ incredible Wild Card run in 2013, my brother and I taught Sarge how to fist bump with us and every time the Pirates won, the three of us fist bump and say ‘Believe,’ which was one of the team’s slogans that year. In fact, Sarge will fist bump you to this day.” Ranger lives in Mississippi with Smith and was involved in a promotion for the Ole Miss softball team when his paw was used to replicate the infamous “Beast” paw from the movie “The Sandlot.” He was also a frequent visitor to the dog- friendly baseball and field hockey fields when Smith worked at Davidson. Being home in West Virginia has He traveled with her to UNCW for Charleston Southern’s volleyball tournament last fall and travels with her whenever she does. Bear has been known to make an appearance in videos or the softball press box for games. He is always ready to go to the office and visit with Allison’s co-workers and student-athletes. The love Allison has for her furry friend has certainly been important during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has helped her get through the tough times. “Every day has become about him and spending as much time as possible together,” Allison said. “On the bad days, he’s a simple reminder of bliss innocence, which allows me to smile at how happy he is that I’m always around.” allowed Smith to enjoy quality time with her family and her dogs, which has added comfort during this difficult time. “It has been incredibly comforting to have all of the animals around all day,” Smith said. “They bring laughter and entertainment as you can probably imagine with four of them in one household. “I know they have loved having us home all day so they don’t have to spend time put away like they usually do. They are not going to know what to do when life returns to normal and their humans aren’t home 24/7.” For Love of the Game Considering her family lives just a few hours away from Pittsburgh, it should come as no surprise that Caitie Smith joined her family in being a big Pittsburgh Pirates fan. But, for Smith, the assistant director of athletic communications at Ole Miss, that love has extended to her family’s four dogs. All four of them, who are all of mixed breeds, have either a middle name or a nickname related to the Pirates. “As diehard Pirates fans, our passion has inadvertently carried into our animals,” Smith said. Sarge, one of the Smith family’s shelter rescue dogs, has the middle name of McCutchen in honor of former Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Another one of the family’s shelter rescue dogs, AJ, is named after former Pittsburgh pitcher AJ Burnett despite being a female dog. The Smith family has also given AJ a nickname of AJHay after former Pirate Josh Harrison gained the nickname “JHay.” Ranger, a golden retriever and catahoula mix, earned his name in honor of former Pirate Sean Rodriguez. The Smith family’s fourth dog, Wilson, is lucky to be named in honor of two former Pittsburgh players. They All of Caitie Smith’s dogs — Ranger, Sarge, AJ and Wilson — are named in reference to her family’s favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Below, Ranger was included in an Ole Miss softball game promotion.20 | on her tag, Selena Gomez, so it stuck. “Someone was clearly a fan,” DeGroff joked. While Selena is still in touch with her inner kitten, it has given DeGroff a way to keep from getting locked into work all day during the current pandemic. It has also helped with setting DeGroff’s daily schedule. “Selena is still very much on the same schedule, so there is no such thing as If you were to ask any football coach to see their playbook, there is a really good chance you don’t see a play designed for getting your SID to adopt a cat. But, ask Memphis assistant athletic director Tammy DeGroff about it and she could probably draw it up for you. After having to say goodbye to her older cat, Cooper, because of cancer in February 2018, DeGroff accompanied several of the Memphis football team’s players and head coach Ryan Silverfield — who had been serving as the team’s offensive line coach at the time — on a volunteer trip to the Memphis Animal Shelter just a few short months later. The shelter was holding an adoption special where people could adopt cats for $20. DeGroff had one other cat, Puff, in her house, but she was not doing well without having a feline friend with her, which surprised DeGroff. While DeGroff thought she might be adopting another cat that day, it wasn’t guaranteed until she walked by Selena’s cage in the kitten room. She found a domestic shorthair cat had been playing with another kitten when DeGroff walked by the first time, but later, she found the cat by herself as the other kitten was adopted. DeGroff stopped and walked over to the kennel door. She reached in and had an instant connection to the cat. The decision was made as Puff was about to have a new friend joining her at home. With the adoption sheet in hand, DeGroff went to the checkout window. Coach Silverfield came over to check on his SID as he needed to leave for a recruiting event. After DeGroff assured the coach she was fine and announced her intentions, he paid the cashier for the adoption and left. As for a name for DeGroff’s new friend? Leave it to the players who were volunteering to help with that. A group of them were bottle-feeding some of the younger kittens and after they were told some of the kittens were not named, they took matters into their own hands. When DeGroff gathered her new addition to take home, she had a name sleeping in and just not getting moving to start the day,” she said. It’s becoming a habit for DeGroff to adopt a pet as the result of a work commitment. A few years ago, she adopted her dog, Zoe, after the Humane Society brought pets to a Memphis women’s basketball game. DeGroff is giving new meaning to the phrase “bringing your work home,” but she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s Not in the Playbook, Coach Cooper the Champ Talk about an exciting 2017-18 athletics year for Chris Brooks, the associate director of athletic communications at James Madison. In June 2017, Brooks adopted Cooper, a mixed breed of collie, Labrador and pitbull. Just a few months later, the James Madison football team, which Brooks serves as the primary communications contact for, went 14-1 and reached the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. Brooks capped off the year by spearheading the publicity efforts for James Madison’s national champion women’s lacrosse team. But, it didn’t take long thereafter for the two worlds to collide. After winning the national title in Long Island with a thrilling victory over Boston College on the eve of Memorial Day, the Dukes returned to Harrisonburg late that evening. Somehow, Brooks ended up taking the national championship trophy home to his house, where he placed it on his kitchen table. Brooks was slated to return the trophy to the team the next morning for one final team meeting, but before he took it back, he decided to take advantage of a special photo opportunity. So, he got Cooper to sit next to the After being adopted with the help of Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield, Selena has made herself right at home with assistant athletic director Tammy DeGroff.CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 21 trophy and snapped a photo. “How many SIDs have the national championship trophy in their house the day after winning it and get the chance to have their dog pose for a picture with it?,” Brooks said. “Fortunately, Cooper didn’t think it was a toy, so there were no chew marks on it. I got to keep my job!” Football game days can be very long and for Brooks, he was worried about Cooper being in a crate for nearly half the day. When his dog sitter (who happened to foster Cooper before Brooks adopted him) was unavailable, he turned to one of his student workers to help out after the game ended. The student worker gladly accepted, but several weeks later, Brooks found out all of his student workers from the football game went over to play with Cooper. It certainly was a team effort on that day and according to Brooks, Cooper loved every minute of it. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed Brooks to spend more time than usual with his dog, and Cooper has been sure to take advantage. “It’s quiet being at home by myself and not seeing my teams or co-workers, but Cooper sits right next to me while I work from my living room with a paw always on me,” Brooks said. “He even tries to sneak into virtual meetings if he can. “Cooper loves me being home every day. He gets multiple walks and all the attention. So, if you ask me, I say he’s benefiting more than I and that’s cool with me.” Chris Brooks’ dog, Cooper, poses next to the 2018 NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse championship trophy after James Madison edged Boston College to win the title.22 | women’s basketball team was a dream come true. I watched all of Syracuse’s games leading up to my arrival on campus in January 2018. I knew I had to know the team before they knew me as it would make for a smooth transition. That’s when I first learned about Tiana Mangakahia. Syracuse had a dynamic, crafty point guard who could dish 10 assists per game while pouring in 17- plus points. One of the first Syracuse games I watched, Tiana had a program-record 17 assists in a game. She was special to watch. What I learned immediately when I began in January was how special she was as a person, too. Tiana scored 44 points the first Syracuse game I worked. She led the team in points and assists en route to earning All-ACC First Team honors. Syracuse has a substantial amount of media coverage for women’s basketball so Tiana and I spent a lot of time together my first year between interviews to postgame press conferences. We established a great relationship and On June 14, 2019, I returned home from my seventh CoSIDA Convention. I was refreshed and excited for the upcoming academic year after spending a week learning from my peers in communications. I stopped by the office for a few hours to drop some things off on the Friday after I returned and saw the point guard on the women’s basketball team on my way in. She asked if I would be in the office for a bit as she had something to tell me. This was standard procedure for us as we spoke almost daily about several things. Little did I know that when she stopped by a half hour later, my world would change forever. • • • When I accepted my current position in December 2017, I knew it would be a challenge to start a new job in the middle of basketball season but was up for the challenge because working with Coach (Quentin) Hillsman and the Syracuse Tough With T by Olivia Coiro | Syracuse University | Assistant Director of Athletic Communications | Outside the Lines Tiana & Olivia on the day of Tiana’s first round of chemotherapy. When a relationship based on trust goes beyond basketballCoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 23 became close friends. She would talk to me about things beyond basketball, such as family, religion and goals for the future. She quickly learned that I cared about her so much deeper than just as a student-athlete, but also as a person, as I do with all the student-athletes with whom I’ve been lucky to work with. • • • In March, Tiana was named Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention and was a top-5 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is awarded to the nation’s best point guard. She was draft eligible and had a handful of days to decide if she would turn pro and try her luck in the WNBA Draft (she was projected anywhere from the second to third round) or return to Syracuse for her final year of eligibility. The deadline was midnight on a Sunday and I went to visit my family for the weekend. While I was out of town, Tiana called me multiple times a day bouncing her thoughts about her decision off me. It felt like the longest weekend of my career. I was stressed and I was absorbing her stress. When she made her final decision to stay, she called me and told me. I cried. I was so excited to have the opportunity to work with her for one more season and promote her story as she aimed to be a first round draft pick in 2020. I will never forget what she said “Liv, everything in my head is telling me to go pro, but something in my heart is telling me to stay.” Over the next two and a half months I watched Tiana work harder than any athlete I ever worked with. She was a machine, in the best shape of her life and doing everything possible to position herself for the best season of her collegiate career and to be a lock for the 2020 WNBA Draft Class. • • • Tiana walked into my office and told me she found a lump on her left breast. I remember telling her it was probably nothing, maybe a cyst, and she was fine. She had a biopsy that afternoon and the following Tuesday, June 18, 2019, she received a call that Ph ot os p ro vi de d b y O livi a C oir o. 1 Tiana & Olivia with Syracuse teammates Digna Strautmane (left), Emily Engstler (2nd from left) after Tiana’s double mastectomy. 2 Tiana in front of a display with her “Tough4T” shirt. 3 Tiana Facetiming her parents in Australia from her hospital bed. 4 Tiana & Olivia at a ‘Cuse football game in 2019. 5 Olivia & Tiana in the waiting room before a doctor visit. 1 2 34524 | she had Stage 2, Grade 3 Ductal Carcinoma… breast cancer. She was 24 years old and perfectly healthy — on the outside. My first phone call was to my mom, who’s met Tiana and loves watching her play. I sat on the floor in my house and cried to her. I was so scared. Mom told me to get it together and be there for Tiana. In the following weeks and days I accompanied Tiana to countless doctors appointments. It was summer and her teammates were home for break, coaches were out recruiting and her family was half a world away in her native Australia. I guess I was the next best option. But the reality of it was over the months leading up to her diagnosis I had earned her trust as her SID. She knew she could lean on me for anything, compliance permitting, and that I would always be there for her. When she got diagnosed, I knew if Tiana needed me to be with her, nothing would get in the way. On July 1 Tiana shared her cancer diagnosis with the world. The week before we worked as a team with Tyler Cady, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, to decide how and when she would share the unfortunate news. She decided that she wanted to tell her team first. On Sunday, June 30, I rushed back from a family vacation to be there to support her at our team meeting. Telling the team was the first of many hard conversations Tiana would have over the next few weeks. The next day, her diagnosis went public. I remember the two of us sitting in my office crying after we pressed send. Both of our phones started going off with messages from people all across the world sending love and support Tiana’s way. We decided to go visit her friend and former teammate Miranda Drummond who was working a summer job at a local ice cream shop. I could tell T needed to see a friendly face. Ice cream was the best medicine that day. • • • From the moment we pressed send on July 1, my phone hasn’t stopped buzzing. Media requests, appearance requests, questions and concerns from people all over asking about Tiana. It was nothing I could have prepared for. When Tiana’s news first went public I immediately started to reach out to other SIDs who have worked with student- athletes that had cancer or life-threatening diseases. Scott McConnell at Texas was a huge help to me. We talked on the phone for about an hour about his similar experience with UT men’s basketball player Andrew Jones and he answered every question I had. At the end of our conversation one thing was clear, Tiana’s situation would be different as she elected to stay in Syracuse and seek treatment locally. • • • Tiana is an instant boost of energy. She doesn’t have bad days and doesn’t allow you to have them around her. She always finds a way to show you that things will get better. In the blink of an eye, Tiana is getting shots up in the Melo Center again, cancer-free since an early November surgery. As I reflect back on this experience working with Tiana during such a pivotal time in her life, I smile. As her hair grows in and she gets closer and closer to returning to the basketball court, I’m reminded that this part of her journey will have a happy ending and I’m fortunate to help tell her story. More than My SID by Tiana Mangakahia When I first met Olivia Coiro (Liv), she was teaching me ways to improve my public speaking, specifically with the media. That was my first impression of what an SID was. Since then, I’ve gotten better but she still reminds me to cut down filler words during interviews such as ‘um’ and ‘like’. She’s been pushing me to be great since we met. But Liv has also been my home away from home. Last fall was the darkest moment of my life. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at 24 changed my life in so many ways I didn’t anticipate. There were so many horrible nights and days. It really helped having Liv there. Even before I got sick, Liv was the first person I would talk to about basketball or life in general. Last May, when I decided to stay at Syracuse for my final year of eligibility I spent the whole summer in ’Cuse. All of my teammates were home and I was still training. I would always ask Liv if she could hang out with me. She’d remind me that she was my SID and needed to maintain a professional relationship with me. So instead I would frequently visit her in the office just to spend time together while her workload was less in the summer. She’s always felt like more of a friend to me than an SID. Liv came to my first oncology appointment when I was told I would lose my hair. She was there for my bone scans, heart scans and all my tests before I started chemo. All along she was right there with me. On my surgery day, she was there. Sometimes we would be at the doctor throughout the entire day; it made my day just talking to her and having her with me. She saw every side of me; angry, happy, depressed, anxious. Every possible emotion you could think of, Liv has seen from me. I remember all the times I cried to her in her office or when she would wake up early before work to accompany me to a doctor’s appointment. A few mornings I called her crying because I didn’t want to get out of bed and she would stop by and cheer me up. This isn’t even a fraction of how much Liv was there for me. I’m so blessed to have Liv in my life. Especially when I felt like I had no one, she would call or text me at the right time, unknowingly reminding me I had her. I realize now, after everything I’ve been through, the importance of a good relationship between an SID and student-athlete. It’s impossible to express into words how much Liv means to me. To think that next year will be my last year at Syracuse with Liv makes me sad, but I know that she will be part of my life forever. I love her. CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 25 helping the CoSIDA staff drill down into specific data points. Athlete Viewpoint co-founders Mike and Jennifer Cross, along with Advocacy Committee members Mary Beth Challoner and E.J. Borghetti were on an April 16 webinar and provided critical insight into the skills and value sports information directors bring to the athletic department and the entire institution and how to make the case for how SIDs can demonstrate and communicate that value while framing their future during uncertain times. Holding onto important information our members had specifically requested — that didn’t feel right. Releasing the data during such an unprecedented crisis, well, that timing was awful too. CoSIDA’s leadership ultimately made the call to release the data in waves, giving our members a chance to digest it before seeing the final data dashboard. “CoSIDA has worked to identify resources it can continue to provide our membership during these uncertain times and there is relevant data produced by the salary survey that can be helpful in our current circumstances. We want to be sensitive, and at the same time helpful, to difficult discussions and decisions taking place on campuses,” CoSIDA President Herb Vincent said. #CoSIDA2020: Be sure to participate in member discussions during the virtual convention concerning the survey results and look for resources and professional development opportunities that utilize the survey findings throughout the year. CoSIDA members asked for a salary survey in 2020. The CoSIDA Board of Directors approved funds to work with an expert in the field of data collection and analysis in intercollegiate athletics. CoSIDA partnered with to compile questions and review results. Those results were delivered to the CoSIDA staff in March just as the timeline suggested. And then COVID-19 happened. University campuses were closed. Winter championships and spring seasons were canceled. CoSIDA members were sent home to work remotely for the foreseeable future. As the days dragged on, stories appeared about schools closing, sports being cut, employees being furloughed and department budgets being slashed. The CoSIDA staff was sitting on a large amount of data we promised to deliver. But the timing to release it didn’t seem right. “This was a perplexing decision because of the health and economic environment that is dictating a changing lifestyle at home and the workplace,” said CoSIDA Executive Director Doug Vance. “As we evaluated the big picture of college athletics, we arrived at the conclusion that releasing data now that is centered around salaries, benefits and staff sizes would appear tone deaf. That violates our normal goals for transparency with the membership, but these are not normal times.” CoSIDA’s Board of Directors and officer group were consulted. They agreed with Vance, citing member concerns not about a raise or bonus but about their jobs. Results were shared with members of the Advocacy Committee and they agreed. It was too soon to share all the data with the membership. Personal well-being and mental health should be the association’s top priority. The problem was no one knew when this crisis would be over, when members would return to campus and if there would ever be a “good time” to discuss salaries and resources. A decision was made after much debate and discussion. CoSIDA would release data points with overarching themes beginning in mid-April and ending with the entire data dashboard being shared with members as virtual #CoSIDA2020 was getting underway. Our survey partner, by Laurie Bollig CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement Giving You the Data CoSIDA’s anticipated Compensation and Career Satisfaction Survey results to be released in early June in conjunction with the #CoSIDA2020 Virtual Convention. View videos, infographics and data at: Advocacy26 | population — or approximately 48.9 million people — have a diagnosed disability. I was born with cerebral palsy and a severe bilateral hearing loss. Birnbaum was born with cerebral palsy and utilizes a manual wheelchair for daily activities. O’Hagan is on the autism spectrum. None of us has let our disability prevent us from accomplishing any of our goals or being a leader in the sports information profession. “I always wanted to work in sports since I was a kid,” O’Hagan said. “I interned under Gil Burgmaster at Utica College for a semester and fell in love with the job and it became my goal to become a sports information director.” As a professional with a disability, I can request for reasonable accommodations to allow me to perform my job to the best of my abilities. Advancements in technology have enabled many people to highlight their skills and limit the impact of a disability. For example, I wear hearing aids that have Bluetooth capabilities that allow me to hear conversations on my phone or in a group setting with a similar clarity to able-bodied individuals. Another example can be found if you walk into a volleyball match or The athletics communications field is a diverse profession with constituents from all walks of life and backgrounds that at its core has a passion for covering sports and student-athletes. Whether it’s through their own playing experience or being a fan, that passion is one of the primary reasons we put in long hours working nights and weekends to cover our respective teams and institutions. CoSIDA and its membership has been at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession and that extends to people with physical and mental disabilities. While some people might perceive Diversity & Inclusion More than Able Employers should focus on abilities, not disabilities, when making hires. by Tommy Chasanoff University of the Cumberlands, Sports Information Director // CoSIDA Diversity & Inclusion Committee member The University of the Cumberlands Student Government Association honored Tommy Chasanoff with the Honored Staff Member of the Year for 2019-20, presented to a staff member on campus for commitment to the school and its students. While some people might perceive an individual as having a limitation or disability, that hasn’t stopped some athletics communications professionals from achieving their goals and succeeding in this industry. an individual as having a limitation or disability, that hasn’t stopped some athletic communication professionals from achieving their goals and succeeding in this industry. Anthony “AJ” O’Hagan from Yeshiva University, Tyler Birnbaum from University of Wisconsin-Superior, and myself are prime examples that if you focus on a person’s ability, they will rise to the challenge and not let obstacles stand in their way. O’Hagan is the sports information director at Yeshiva where he oversees 15 varsity teams. Birnbaum has worked at the NCAA Division I level and is currently the sports information specialist at the University of Wisconsin- Superior, serving as the primary contact for 19 sports. I’m the sports information director at the University of the Cumberlands, overseeing a department with 30 sports. I supervise a staff of six in addition to work-study students. Current statistics show that roughly 19.4% of the U.S. CoSIDA 360 | MAY 2020 | 27 individuals who question your abilities, but you need to apply for every opportunity and you’ll find that your persistence will pay off. While you’re in the job search process, continue to expand your skills set and diversify your portfolio to highlight your abilities because this will open more doors. For employers, the provides guidelines for the type of questions that can be asked during the interview process. I would encourage each supervisor to take a close look at each applicant and their ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The focus should always be on an individual’s ability and not their disability. You need to look past your perceptions of what you think a person may not be able to do because of their disability, and focus on what an individual can do and contribute to your program. It might turn out to be one of the best hires you have ever made! “Be patient and give the person a chance, regardless of their perceived limitations. Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they can’t do the job and, most importantly, treat them with the same respect as you do others,” O’Hagan added. “Give us a chance. Just because I get around in a different way doesn’t mean I can’t be great at my job,” said Birnbaum. basketball game, you will see me wearing a headset. We use headsets for calling stats to help me hear my caller better in a loud environment. All of these have aided in my ability to perform and excel as a sports information director. O’Hagan stated that he has made it a point of emphasis to improve his communication skills and other aspects of the job so that he can be treated like everyone else. For Birnbaum one of the biggest obstacles has been gaining accessibility to press boxes and other working areas. There are many athletic venues that do not have wheelchair accessibility, which has forced Birnbaum to adapt by either being carried to the press box or using an evacuation chair. He has adapted by doing stats from other locations such as the dugout or from watching the live stream. During this past season at UW-Superior, Birnbaum statted hockey games from the scorer’s table on the other side of the ice with headset communication to the spotters in the press box. According to Birnbaum, a lift to the press box was approved to be installed, however, it’s a year later and it hasn’t been done. “It’s been very frustrating to be honest,” said Birnbaum, who is trying to cover his sports just like any of his colleagues. He asks that venues take mobility issues into account even if not required to have an elevator. “It could be a benefit to everyone,” Birnbaum said. A.J. O’Hagan has served as the SID at Yeshiva since December 2015. He is active with autism awareness programs including speaking to young children in their classrooms. Tyler Birnbaum is a sports information and graphic design specialist currently at UW-Superior. One of the most common messages expressed by all three of us is that people should never let their disability prevent them from trying new things. “You have to get out of your comfort zone and overcome your limitations to allow you to get better at your job,” said O’Hagan. When I got to Cumberlands I was hesitant to do broadcasting because of how I would sound on air. After giving it a try I realized that I can do it — with equal skill to others in my department. I am now a regular commentator on the UCSN and even called the final out of 2019 baseball opening round. It’s also important that employees advocate for themselves. “The athletics communications field, like most professions, wasn’t built with people with disabilities in mind. If you need something in order to do your job, let someone know,” said Birnbaum. My best advice to individuals with disabilities is that if you are trying to break into the field, you need to be confident in your abilities and you need to be persistent. You need to look for opportunities to demonstrate your skills even if it may not be the “ideal” job. You might not be selected by some You might not be selected by some individuals who question your abilities, but you need to apply for every opportunity and you’ll find that your persistence will pay off. Ph ot os p ro vi de d b y T om m y C ha sa no ff, A J O ’H ag an a nd T yl er B irn ba um .Next >