Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

In democratic societies, the law often acts as a moral conscience, unfortunately abiding by the strict letter of the law, without a moral view, limits moral action. Historically, this can be found from Mosiac law to Roman law to modern US practice. For example, Hebrew Pharisees ruled the land by enforcing Mosaic Law and paid no attention to the individual. Roman law was its own purpose without any concern for the individual. Today, the US Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states, people with disabilities will not be discriminated against in transportation, while working, and even while playing. However, we have become so immersed by the umbrella of the law and its interpretation that we have lost and forgotten our moral duty to the individual.. Individuals with physical disabilities are still not given the opportunity to physically play in sports or recreation except for a few high schools, colleges, and the Paralympics. Therefore, the purpose of this ethical presentation is to examine the social injustices that are created when we as a society permit “legal” to determine opportunity and the concomitant resultant limitations on individuals with physical disabilities to play and recreate. Examples and solutions will be offered in both pre-professional education and professional practice. Participants will leave with: a different moral perspective about the limits of “legal” to morally serve individuals with disability, and will be given examples of better inclusionary practices.