Feds: Pa. football league must allow boy with eye condition to wear helmet with tinted visor

LIGONIER, Pa. – A youth football league in western Pennsylvania must allow a visually disabled child to wear a tinted helmet visor to protect his eyes.

The settlement announced Tuesday by the Justice Department resolves a case against the Mountain Valley Midget Football League in Ligonier (lig-uh-NEER’).

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The case involves a 7-year-old boy with ocular albinism. His eyes have little or no pigment and are very sensitive to sunlight.

The boy’s mother filed a complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act after league officials denied use of the visor last fall. They said paramedics would be unable to see the boy’s pupils and diagnose a concussion if he got hurt.

Federal officials ruled the league failed to make reasonable accommodations for the boy.

The league’s attorney could not be reached for comment.