Disabled Boy Wins Right to Play on Soccer Team

A 9-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who uses a walker will be able to play in his pee-wee soccer team’s final game of the season today, a judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge David Russell granted a preliminary injunction to allow Ryan Taylor to play, despite the objections of the Lawton Evening Optimist Soccer Assn.

Russell agreed with lawyers for Ryan and his parents, who said the league’s soccer field is a public facility under the Americans With Disabilities Act and that the league must make reasonable accommodations for Ryan.

The league leases its soccer fields from the Army’s Ft. Sill. League officials barred Ryan’s four-wheeled walker from the field last month over safety concerns after Ryan had played in two games.

“I find it very remote that there could be some injury [from the walker],” Russell said. “There could be injury without the walker.”

Ryan was not in court Friday. His parents came with his padded walker covered in red duct tape. Russell said the walker should include more padding around the wheels.

“We’re excited, and I’m sure Ryan will be thrilled that he’ll get to play tomorrow,” said JoAnne Taylor, who has led a public campaign to get her son back on the field.

An attorney for the league said Ryan will be welcomed on the field.

“We wanted Ryan to play in the game, and we were hopeful he could play under conditions which we consider safe,” said Gayle Barrett.

She said the league will not appeal.

Barrett said the league was glad the judge adopted the “buddy system” it proposed. Russell said the league can require an adult to stand near Ryan during the game to assist him.

Russell’s ruling did not address whether Ryan can play on the team in the spring season.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next year,” Russell said from the bench.

Tim Taylor said the judge apparently saw that his son’s right to participate outweighed the potential harm to other kids.