Iditarod officials decide to reconsider blind musher's petition (What's next?)

Anchorage Daily News ^ | July 30, 2003 | ZAZ HOLLANDER

[AlaskaErik]

WASILLA -- After putting off a decision in June, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officials will reconsider special accommodations for a legally blind Oregon teenager bent on competing next year.

Iditarod Board president Rick Koch has scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 19 with an agenda focused on two questions, Koch said Tuesday.

[RightWhale]

There are times when all the mushers are blind. If you are lucky enough to have a great lead dog, you will be all right. Of course, you are trusting your welfare to a dog and who knows what dogs really think?

[anniegetyourgun]

I know what dogs think. You don't wanna know....it ain't pretty.

[pabianice]

Reno Air Racing Association officials decide to reconsider blind flier's petition

Reno Daily News ^ | July 30, 2004 |

Americans With Disabilities Act may apply for Massachusetts teenager

RENO, NV -- After putting off a decision in June, Reno Air Racing Association officials will reconsider special accommodations for a legally blind Massachusetts teenager bent on competing next year.

RARA Board president Bill Zed has scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 19 with an agenda focused on two questions, Zed said Tuesday.

Does the Americans With Disabilities Act apply to the US' only Unlimited Catagory air race -- a race in which last year the P-51 racer "Dago Red" qualified with a speed of 497.8 MPH?

And if it does, what can the board do to accommodate 18-year-old Aaron Whiner, who wants to fly with radio guidance?

Whiner formally petitioned the board in early June, but members did not specifically discuss his request then. They did, however, vote down Zed's proposal for a broader policy that would allow them to consider accommodation requests from any disabled entrants.

Later, RARA veterans said allowing radio assistance for Whiner would change the nature of the race and could jeopardize the safety of other teams.

Then, in early July, Whiner paid his entry fee and signed up for next year's race. Zed said he called for the September meeting after receiving numerous messages urging the board to take action.

"I decided we should talk about this again," he said.

Among letters sent to the board are several attention-grabbers: one from the attorney who represented disabled golfer Casey Martin in his successful U.S. Supreme Court bid to use a golf cart on the PGA Tour, one from U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and one from U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who authored the ADA.

All three urge the board to allow Whiner, whom does not have a pilot's license because he cannot qualify for a medical certificate, to fly the race with the type of assistance he requested, and warn that a court battle over the RARA's ADA obligations could be lengthy. ZED is also challenging in court the FAA requirement that a pilot have a current medical certificate to act as pilot in command of an aircraft, claiming that such a requirement is discriminatory against the visually challenged... MORE...

[Fzob]

I only wish this was a parody.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

But riding implies that they are not participating in the movement of the sled. If that is true, why even bother having riders? Let the dogs do all the work, and get all the glory, when they win.

[Iwo Jima]

I can't see that a blind driver's abilities are being tested, other than the ability to hang on and not fall off. Balance, in other words. Now, the ability of the dogs of a blind driver would be severely tested.

[AlaskaErik]

I've always joked about a blind person wanting to fly and using ADA as a vehicle to do so. At first I thought this was an Onion spoof, but sadly, I realize that it isn't. How far will we go with this ADA crap until Americans come to their senses?