The Boston Athletic Association has a proud tradition of extending the challenge of the marathon to people with disabilities.

Beginning in 1975, when one wheelchair racer completed the distance, the Boston Marathon has helped change public perception and provide opportunity and inspiration to a generation of new athletes. From its inauspicious origins 35 years ago, the Boston Marathon currently supports a push rim wheelchair division, a visually impaired/blind division and a mobility impaired program.

Following the historic breakthrough in 1975, the Boston Athletic Association embraced this competition and incorporated it as part of the Boston Marathon. The push rim wheelchair division quickly became a focal point of local, national and world interest.

In accordance with the existing divisions of the Boston Marathon, the push rim wheelchair division similarly adopted a set of realistic qualifying times that have served to motivate aspiring athletes. With the exceptions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Boston Marathon is the only race in the world requiring a qualifying time. With the emphasis on performance, the push rim wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon has witnessed an unparalleled level of excellence in the form of world, national and personal best performances.

The introduction of prize money in 1986 enhanced the competition, and provided the push rim wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon with the richest prize purse in the sport.

This athletic phenomenon and subsequent successes of the push rim wheelchair division provided hope and possibility to additional audiences with physical disabilities, who were eager to accept the challenge of the marathon distance.

By the mid 1980's, the B.A.A. established a visually impaired/blind division and a mobility impaired program. In each of these new components of the marathon, realistic standards and criteria of competition have been established for all concerned.

To date, more than one thousand people with different disabilities have competed in the wheelchair division of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, while the visually and mobility impaired divisions have provided access to a growing number of additional athletes.

All individuals with disabilities must follow entry procedures and qualifying standards of the B.A.A. For persons with disabilities, the Boston Athletic Association follows the rules and guidelines of the International Paralympic Committee which are recognized by the International Stoke-Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation, Wheelchair Athletics USA, Disabled Sports USA and the United States Association for Blind Athletes. The Boston Marathon has push rim wheelchair and visually impaired/blind divisions, and a mobility impaired program. Medical documentation or proof of disability classification must be submitted with the entry form.

Push Rim Wheelchair Division
An open class 1-2 and 3-4 event for men and women, who use wheelchairs in sport and have completed the marathon distance in a qualified time, within the allotted calendar time frame. This division follows the rules and guidelines as defined by Wheelchair Sports USA and the International Stoke-Mandeville Games Federation. According to these Rules, the Wheelchair Division of the Boston Marathon is reserved for athletes classified as having a disability. Able-bodied individuals may not participate in the Wheelchair Division.

• The qualifying time is 6:00 hours for individuals who, because of the nature of their disability, have difficulty ambulating.

• The qualifying time is 8:00 hours for individuals who, because of the nature of their disability, need mobility aids such as prosthetics, leg braces or crutches to ambulate.

All other individuals with disabilities must follow entry procedures and qualifying standards of either the B.A.A. or the established qualifying standard from the recognized disability sports organization.

B.A.A. Rules for Guides to Mobility Impaired Athletes

• Athletes are encouraged to bring their own guides to the competition. Upon request, the B.A.A. will try to provide an appropriate guide. This request must be submitted at the time of registration. A competitor may be allowed up to two guides who must be declared or requested at race registration.
  
  
• Competitor and guide are in competition and are regarded as a team. The guide must wear on the front and back of his/her shirt or singlet, the B.A.A. issued GUIDE bibs. Guide(s) are not scored. The guides may both start with the competitor or the competitor may position a specific guide for exchange at a predetermined location along the course.
  
  
• Guides may not use bicycles or other mechanical means of transport.
  
  
• At no time may the guide pull the athlete, or propel the athlete forward by pushing. Infringement of this rule shall lead to disqualification.
  
  
• The athlete and guide shall be not more than 0.5 m (20 inches) apart at all times.
  
  
• Competitors and their guides may receive assistance at the feeding stations.

Blind/Visually Impaired Division
The qualifying time is 5:00 hours for visually impaired athletes (men and women) classified B1, B2, and B3.

B.A.A. Rules and Guidelines for the Visually Impaired

• Athletes are encouraged to bring their own guides to the competition. However, the B.A.A. will try to provide an appropriate guide if the need has been indicated on the entry form in advance (together with specific details of the standard of guidance required). The competitor must declare their guides and their exchange positions at race registration.
  
  
  
• Competitor and guide are in competition and are regarded as a team. The guide must wear on the front and back of his/her shirt or singlet, the B.A.A. issued GUIDE bibs. Guide(s) are not scored.
  
  
  
• A relay of up to four guide runners may be used by B1 and B2 competitors but changeover may only take place at the 10K, 20K and 30K locations along the course. No runner may be accompanied by more than one guide at a time. Guides must report to the Massachusetts Track & Field Official at their pre-designated changeover station before and after transition at said stations. All guides who are not accompanying a runner must leave the marathon course.
  
  
• As the blind runner crosses the finish line, the guide must be behind the athlete.
  
  
• The method of guidance is the choice of the athlete. He or she may choose to use an elbow lead, or a tether, or run free. Holding the athlete or the athlete’s clothing is not permitted. Strapping or tying the hands of athlete and guide to one another is not permitted. The tether used must provide at least 5 cm (2 inches) length between the respective hands of guide and athlete. In addition, the runner may receive verbal instruction from the guide.
  
  
• Guides may not use a bicycle or other mechanical means of transport.
  
  
• At no time may the guide pull the athlete, or propel the athlete forward by pushing. Infringement of this rule shall lead to disqualification.
  
  
• Whether or not a tether is being used, the athlete and guide shall be not more than 0.5 m (20 inches) apart at all times.
  
  
• Competitors and their guides may receive assistance at the feeding stations.
  
  
• The finishing order will be determined for all three classes combined.
  

USABA Class Description for the Blind/Visually Impaired

Class B1
Possessing no light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.
Class B2
From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.
Class B3
From visual acuity above 20/600 and up to visual acuity of 20/200 and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees and more than five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.