Two Psychologists Join Athletes Without Limits Staff
DC-Area Psychologists Volunteer to Help Athletes with Intellectual Disability Qualify for Paralympics
Washington D.C.: Two area psychologists, Pamela Meek and Brady Haycock, joined Athletes Without Limits as National Eligibility Officers to assist in classifying athletes with intellectual disability for US teams. Athletes Without Limits is responsible for providing evidence of intellectual disability in order for athletes to represent the United States at Paralympic and other high-level competition, including the 2012 Paralympics.
In addition to being top achievers in their sport, prospective athletes are required to complete an application process that provides evidence of psychological testing — including intellectual functioning (IQ) and Adaptive Behavior — and other requirements internationally recognized by INAS and the International Paralympic Committee. The National Eligibility Officers will review all US applications before they are passed on to INAS’s headquarters in England for international classification.
Pamela Meek, Ph.D. has worked as a child psychologist for over 30 years providing therapy, consultation and psychological evaluations for children, families and schools. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychological Foundations in Education from the University of Florida and is licensed in Maryland. Dr. Meek currently conducts a private practice with two offices in Bethesda and Rockville (www.pamelameekphd.com) and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Brady Haycock, PsyD. currently works with students at the See Forever Foundation’s Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools. She is a graduate of the Saint Elizabeth’s Psychology Residency Program run by the D.C. Department of Mental Health, and is a licensed psychologist in the District of Columbia. In addition to being a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Brady is also an athlete and participates in running and other local events.
With both doctors on board, Athletes Without Limits looks forward to achieving its goal of taking a US team of 20 strong the to the 2011 Global Games in Italy this September. To learn more about Athletes Without Limits visit www.athleteswithoutlimits.org.
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Athletes Without Limits is a nonprofit whose mission is to identify, develop and support athletes with intellectual disability and athletic dreams of participating in high-level competition in the US and abroad. Athletes Without Limits is based in Washington, D.C. and is the US member of Inas.
The International Federation for Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability (Inas), is an association of 87 countries that manages eligibility requirements for para-athletes with an intellectual disability and organizes 10-15 regional and world championship events yearly including the Global Games. Inas is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee which voted in 2009 to re-include athletes with intellectual disability into Paralympic competition. Learn more at www.inas.org.
