A ruling by a New Jersey medical board ruled yesterday has brought 34 year-old Isaac Feliciano one step closer to his dream of becoming a firefighter.
That’s amazing because Isaac Feliciano lost his leg to gangrene from spinal meningitis at age five.
Still, despite that disability, he starred on his high school football and baseball teams and ran sprints in the Paralympics.
The medical board’s ruling overturned a decision by the city of Paterson, which had blocked Mr. Feliciano from joining its fire department - despite the fact that he easily passing the Fire Department’s physical exam - because he wore a prosthetic leg below his left knee.
According to the New Jersey Merit System Board’s decision, "There is no state law or regulation precluding an individual who has a prosthetic from serving as a firefighter."
The Merit System’s Board’s ruling orders Feliciano to be retroactively reinstated to the hiring list to enter the Paterson Fire Department Academy - the last step before becoming a firefighter.
Feliciano was expectedly ecstatic over the decision, "I feel like a trail blazer. It's not just about me anymore. It affects many other amputees," Feliciano said.
"My advice to others is you have to put the work in. You have to go beyond the requirements," he added.
That’s amazing because Isaac Feliciano lost his leg to gangrene from spinal meningitis at age five.
Still, despite that disability, he starred on his high school football and baseball teams and ran sprints in the Paralympics.
The medical board’s ruling overturned a decision by the city of Paterson, which had blocked Mr. Feliciano from joining its fire department - despite the fact that he easily passing the Fire Department’s physical exam - because he wore a prosthetic leg below his left knee.
According to the New Jersey Merit System Board’s decision, "There is no state law or regulation precluding an individual who has a prosthetic from serving as a firefighter."
The Merit System’s Board’s ruling orders Feliciano to be retroactively reinstated to the hiring list to enter the Paterson Fire Department Academy - the last step before becoming a firefighter.
Feliciano was expectedly ecstatic over the decision, "I feel like a trail blazer. It's not just about me anymore. It affects many other amputees," Feliciano said.
"My advice to others is you have to put the work in. You have to go beyond the requirements," he added.
