My Son Jeff Almost Didn't Get to Go on a Boy Scouts Camping Trip because of His Disability
30 years of change under the Americans with Disabilities Act
My son Jeff is fabulous.
He’s strong, kind, funny, and a wonderful person. Before the pandemic, Jeff participated in a theater group called “I’m a Star”, a bowling league, and has a group of friends that get together periodically called “Guys Night Out” and “Job Club.” He also works out with a trainer with me. Jeff loves movies, watching t.v., and eating out.
He also experiences an intellectual disability. He lives independently in a town house with another man with support people that Jeff chooses and contacts. He works part-time at a local grocery store.
Jeff faced discrimination because of his disability
When Jeff was 18, he was a member of our local Boy Scouts troop. He made many friends in his troop. Many of the boys had known Jeff for a long time.
Jeff shared, "When I was a Boy Scout, I used to go to camp. I used to love that when I was little. You see the wilderness and you go to camp and you do all the fun activities. I went to a lot of camps. The trails and the waterfalls are so beautiful up there."
Around 2001, he wanted to go to an overnight backpacking camp in Colorado with his troop. At the time, Jeff was working on his Eagle Badge and had just completed a 50-mile backpacking trip with his troop. Jeff remembers that they did that long hike "to train to get ready for" the overnight backpacking camp.
Jeff's local troop was supportive of him going, but the council told Jeff that he could not go, because of his disability. The people on the council had never met Jeff. They only saw his diagnosis on the application.
Jeff explained, “My troop leader, they got the news that I couldn’t go because of my disability. My troop leader really wanted me to go."
Thinking back to why it was important to him, Jeff said,
“Because I really wanted to go and see new things and go on the trail, meet some new people and be with my friends and be with everybody I used to know.”
Many of the boys called us and told us they wouldn’t go if Jeff did not. Jeff felt supported by his friends.
Thanks to the ADA, Jeff was allowed to go on the trip
We advocated. The council consulted with an attorney and their disability committee. They were told they could not discriminate against Jeff based on his disability because of ADA.
Thanks to the ADA, Jeff got to go on the camping trip with the rest of his troop, and they accepted the accommodation we asked for —bringing his dad.
Asked now how he felt back when he heard the good news, Jeff said, "It made me feel so happy because I heard very good things about the camp and it was so amazing. It got beautiful sunsets. Sometimes we had thunder over there. Sometimes we had hail storms.”
Truly opening up our communities
Two decades later, we still have work to do to truly open up our communities to everyone. I'm honored to be a Board member of Disability Rights Oregon. My work on the Board is shaped by my most important job: being a mom and my experience helping Jeff complete school, participate in Boy Scouts, and prepare for adult life.
I'm proud that Disability Rights Oregon fights for a world where no Oregonian will have a door closed to them just because they have a disability.
Evelyn Lowry
Member of Board of Directors
Disability Rights Oregon
