Blog: Football Tryout Denied; Discrimination Alleged

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law July 26, 1990, was intended "to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities." In order to do this, the ADA requires public entities to consider whether reasonable accommodations could be made to remove any barriers to participation created by a person's disability. Unfortunately, 20 years after its passage, individuals with disabilities are still being discriminated against and denied equal opportunities.

For example, in August, Connor Aldasch, a 14-year-old sophomore from Fulton, N.Y., was denied the opportunity to try out for the G. Ray Bodley High School varsity football team. Even though Aldasch, who suffers from Tourette syndrome, is captain of the junior varsity football team and reportedly had the support of two assistant coaches, Mike Conners, the varsity coach, overruled them. When asked why Aldasch wasn't getting a tryout, Conners reportedly responded, "I already have three or four disabled kids on my team. How many am I supposed to allow on the team?"

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