Blind N.J. Student Allowed To Race Cross-Country

Jillian Milton is legally blind and has just 10 percent of her vision.

A New Jersey middle school student banned from competing in cross-country because she is legally blind received the go-ahead to run last week.

Jillian Milton, 12, is totally blind in her left eye and has just 10 percent vision in her right eye. Thompson Middle School in Middletown, N.J. received a note from Milton’s doctor that said she could not participate in gym class for safety reasons. She was then removed from the cross-country team because of the note.

But Milton and her mother were told 10 minutes before the start of a race last Wednesday that the school had granted her permission to race after receiving another letter from her doctor.

Milton runs tethered to her aunt, who leads a few steps ahead. She finished the 1.5-mile race in around 15 minutes.

“I am running for myself to be fit, but I’m also running for all the disabled kids to show the world,” Milton told NJ.com. “I wanted to show [school officials] that I could do this and they’re not going to stop me.”

Milton was born 16 weeks premature and has retinopathy of prematurity, which caused the blood vessels in her retinas to not fully develop. Her parents said a blow to the head could cause her to lose the remaining bit of sight she has.

According to NJ.com, Milton’s mother requested that she not participate in gym class to avoid any injuries. The resulting doctor’s note led to her removal from the team before she was reinstated.

For More: NJ.com