Attorney Bonnie Roswig works with the Center for Children’s Advocacy Medical-Legal Partnership and focuses on protecting the rights of disabled children as mandated by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Attorney Roswig was contacted by this child’s mother when her son was refused admission to summer camp because he has diabetes. She connected the family with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, knowing they would be responsive to the issues raised by this case.

Click for a provider’s guide on protections for children with diabetes

(school, camp, daycare and after care programs)

May 29, 2014

U.S. ATTORNEY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL CARE TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO SUMMER CAMP

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the government has reached a settlement with the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain to resolve allegations that the hospital refused to accommodate a child in its summer camp program in 2013 because the child had juvenile diabetes and required the use of an insulin pump.  Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, including diabetes, by places of public accommodation.

This matter stems from a complaint by an employee of the Hospital for Special Care who was required to use family and medical leave in order to care for her child because the child was not allowed to attend the Hospital’s Vacation Ventures Kids Camp summer camp program.  Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the Hospital for Special Care agreed to implement policies and procedures to ensure that children with disabilities are afforded full and equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from all of its summer camp programs.  The Hospital also agreed to publish on its website a statement of policy on prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability.

Under the settlement agreement, the Hospital agreed to restore all of the employee’s family and medical leave used up to the date her child was finally allowed to attend summer camp.

“Every child should have the opportunity to enjoy summer camp in Connecticut,” stated U.S. Attorney Daly.  “Ensuring that children with disabilities, and their families, have equal access to summer camps goes to the heart of the ADA’s promises and protections.  We hope that this agreement serves as a reminder for other Connecticut summer camp programs about their responsibility to comply with the ADA.  While this particular camp was covered under Title III of the ADA – which prohibits discrimination by places of public accommodation – camps run by towns and other municipalities must also comply with the Title II of ADA, which likewise prohibits discrimination against children with disabilities.”

Under Title II and Title III of the ADA, state and local governments and places of public accommodation, respectively, must make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures to afford individuals with disabilities access to and the opportunity to participate and benefit from all of their programs, including summer camps.  Reasonable modifications include an individualized assessment of each child on a case-by-case basis, training summer camp staff on the ADA and, if necessary, the use of injectable medicines.

Additional information about the ADA and its application to places of public accommodation can be found at www.ada.gov.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Perkins, in coordination with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

The enforcement of the ADA is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  Information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/ct/Press2014/20140529.html