Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The New York Times - November 26, 1985
"It's a courageous opinion in that it didn't listen to the fears," said an attorney for the boy, Ryan White, who will be 14 years old next week. The lawyer, Charles R. Vaughan, said today at a news conference that the decision "went right to the medical facts," rather than being influenced by fears.
The hearing officer, Kathleen Madinger Angelone, ruled that Ryan should be allowed to join his classmates when he was well and get home instruction when bed-ridden.
Ryan, appearing with his mother and Mr. Vaughan at a news conference, looked well and said, "I feel great."
Boy's Reaction to Decision
Jeanne White, Ryan's mother, quoted her son as saying, "This is a great birthday present." Ryan's birthday is Dec. 6, she said.
Ryan contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome in December while receiving treatment for hemophilia.
At a hearing on Nov. 1, Mr. Vaughan argued that there was no scientific evidence indicating that AIDS could be spread by casual contact.
School officials had barred the seventh-grader from attending Western Middle School near Kokomo, Ind., because they feared AIDS might be spread in ways not yet known.
The Superintendent of Schools, J. O. Smith, said Monday night that school officials would confer with attorneys before deciding what action to take. They have 20 days to file an appeal with the Department of Education's special education appeal board. After the appeal board, the decision could be appealed to the Federal courts.
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