Boeing Might Have to Rehire Blind Man to Build Planes After Lawsuit

A blind man, John Ott, has filed a lawsuit against Boeing, claiming the company failed to provide proper accommodations during his job search and terminated him for disability discrimination and retaliation. Ott, 63, is seeking damages and potential job reinstatement. He alleges that Boeing executives appeared offended that he believed he could perform essential duties.

Ott, who has been blind since his 30s due to retinitis pigmentosa, accepted a role as a composite fabricator after initially applying for a machinist position. Boeing claimed to have made "good faith efforts" to accommodate Ott without creating undue hardship, but Ott alleges he faced barriers, including an annoyed instructor and a suggestion he attempted to hide his blindness.

The company offered a start date of January 19, 2024, but removed him from the job site due to safety concerns, despite his proposal of assistive technology. Boeing reportedly told Ott he would be fired if he couldn't perform the essential duties, which the suit alleges was added to the job description to deny his employment due to his disability.

Ott returned to work at The Lighthouse for the Blind, where he had proposed using a closed-circuit television device, but Boeing never provided the device. Boeing stated in court documents it attempted to reasonably accommodate Ott without creating undue hardship.