In the fall of 2000, Kassidi Bishop was an aspiring college basketball player who, due to NCAA guidelines regarding progression of education, was sidelined from playing. Because of difficulties stabilizing her episodes of bipolar disorder, she had an extensive absentee record which hampered the progression of her college education. Bishop appealed the NCAA ruling claiming her mental condition was no different from the allowances made for physical conditions.
In an interview with Kassidi, Mark Schwarz of ESPN introduced “a promising 22-year old athlete who appealed to the NCAA that bipolar disorder stole her dream to play college basketball” (ESPN). The NCAA ruled in favor of Bishop's appeal. Schwarz pointed out that this “decision not only impacts Kassidi's life, it also reverberates in the lives of all athletes coping with the ravages of mental illness” (ESPN).
We are proud to share that this inspiring young woman recently joined our forums.
She shares, “I encountered my first episode with bipolar disorder shortly after my sixteenth birthday. Now at the age of 26, I have been stabilized for 6 years. After winning a ground-breaking appeal against the NCAA, I played basketball for the University of Louisville. Maybe some of you out there have read my story, as it was published across the country. It was also featured on ESPN's "Outside the Lines", and numerous other AP and Gannett publications. I love sharing my story, and try to be an advocate for people suffering from Central Nervous System disorders.
I just became a member of About.com, and would like to chat with anyone out there who needs someone to talk to, ask questions of, or just needs a friend who understands. Join Kassidi’s Discussion
