Picture via BBC
15-year-old Logan Blythe has been working to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), for the past four years.
However, the Utah teen, who has Down Syndrome and autism, was not accepted into the Alternative Eagle Scout Programme because the BSA says he did not fulfil their requirements, KSL-TV reports.
His father, Chad, is now suing the BSA and standing up for children with disabilities who hope to become an Eagle Scout one day.
The Alternative Eagle Scout Programme is meant for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities and makes accommodations for them so they can reach the BSA's highest achievement.
Logan earned dozens of badges and his application to enter the Alternative Eagle Scout Programme was approved by the Utah National Parks Council (his local chapter) in November 2017.
However, at the national level, the BSA rejected his application.
The BSA said that while the programme allows its participants to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout by performing alternative tasks that accommodate their disabilities, they said that past accommodations made for Logan meant he had not qualified for the programme.
The teen had completed modified tasks in order to earn badges, which his local Scout chapter allowed, Chad told the Salt Lake Tribune.
Logan's family is now suing the BSA and the Utah National Parks Council on his behalf for exactly $1.
The family has brought the lawsuit against the local chapter as well because they say the Utah National Parks Council approved Logan to join the Alternative Eagle Scout Programme despite knowing the national BSA would not allow him to progress.
Logan's father told KSL-TV that he hopes the suit will lead to change in the BSA's national policy so no other Scout has to go through what Logan has.
The Utah National Parks Council issued a statement regarding the situation saying that decisions about Eagle Scout criteria lie with the Scouts' national body.
Today is World Down Syndrome Day, and we hope that Logan and all the other people with Down Syndrome are given the chance to achieve their dreams.
