A Pittsburgh teenager’s dream of cheering was interrupted; Dad and mom Say It Was Due To Discrimination – WPXI

PITTSBURGH – Newbie to the Shaler Area, Angelina Gizzi, dreamed of turning her baton and cheering on her school as a majorette. She prepared for the test by practicing for hours – and even hired a private trainer. But after auditioning for the team, she couldn’t make it.

“I think it’s discrimination, among other things,” said Gizzi’s mother Toni Gizzi. “I just don’t understand why everyone tried it and it was two freshmen. One was taken and one was not. “

Toni Gizzi told Channel 11 that her daughter has an intellectual disability, and that is something the district is very aware of. The district even created an individual education plan for them.

“It is said that she can play sports and that she is not excluded from anything. And they should really help her to achieve everything she wants to do at Shaler, ”said Toni Gizzi.

When she turned to the district to ask why her daughter wouldn’t become a majorette of Shaler Area, they said she didn’t want any help in the field and thought the noise of the crowd was too overwhelming for Angelina Gizzi.

Channel 11 reached out to the district on this matter with the following to say:

“Shaler Area makes every effort to be inclusive in all educational and extracurricular activities and to provide accommodation for all of our students in order to be successful. Unfortunately we cannot comment on certain student matters, but we can state that the school district is open to working with our families. “

Toni Gizzi’s message to her daughter is to keep swirling. She also has this message for the district:

“This year they’re going to Disney, and personally I think they wanted the perfect squad. Shame on you. That’s all I can say. “