Blind Triathlete Sues over Blackout Glasses

Blind Triathlete Sues over Blackout Glasses

triathlete Aaron Scheidies running in a triathlon

      Blind triathlete Aaron Scheidies has sued a total of three triathlon companies over a rule that forces triathletes to have to wear blackout glasses. While only thirty, he has won six world triathlete competitions and seven for the nation. He is legally blind, with only 20% of his vision still functioning. All of the competitors were forced to wear them. These triathlons are for people being legally blind, so Scheidies says that they shouldn’t force people to not see at all during these events. Scheidies says that this is violating the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. Another argument is that these glasses can not only pose danger to the triathlete, but the other competitors around them also.  

         One of the questions we asked various student around the age of 13 is: Should they be forced to wear the goggles if they don’t want to? Ben Teeter replied: “if they can see somewhat then no”. Almost everybody agreed with this statement, and also said that they should have the choice to choose if they wanted to wear them or not. Many people also said that the rules should be changed to allow people not to wear the Blackout Goggles. Richard Bernstein (Aaron’s lawyer) added that “It is illegal to require Aaron to wear blackout glasses that no able-bodied person would have to wear as a condition of receiving reasonable accommodation in a triathlon,”

This has made it a difficult challenge for Aaron Scheidies to participate in these events. Another argument is that everybody in the race has to wear the Glasses, making it even for the participants who can see less than Aaron. It would even out all of the triathlete’s vision impairment, but it is against the law according to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

·      http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-25/worldsport/sport_us-athlete-blind-lawsuit_1_usa-triathlon-international-triathlon-union-athletes?_s=PM:WORLDSPORT

·      http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/30/should-partially-blind-triathletes-be-forced-to-run-wearing-blackout-glasses/

Nick Wiley

Per. 5

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