DOJ: Child care center violated autistic child’s rights

The Discovery Zone Learning Center is implementing sweeping new policies after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found the popular child care center violated an autistic child’s rights.

The private center, with locations in Columbia, Hebron, and Marlborough, entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations that staff discriminated against a child with autism in violation of the Americans with Disability Act.

The complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Justice last year, according to a press release. Based on its investigation, the government found that Discovery Zone staff failed to reasonably modify its programs to accommodate the child, leading to the child being excluded from its programs.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Discovery Zone has agreed not to discriminate against children with disabilities in the future, will implement new policies and procedures for handling requests for reasonable modifications that are consistent with the ADA, and will provide training to its staff on the ADA, according to the Justice Department. Discovery Zone has also agreed to pay $1,500 to the parent of the autistic child.

“No family should have to worry that their child will be excluded from group childcare because the child is disabled,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery. “I want to commend the Discovery Zone Learning Center for doing the right thing by cooperating with our investigation and agreeing to comply with the ADA going forward.”

The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance during that time.

Avery said that any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700 and ask for the Civil Rights Intake Specialist.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY).  More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

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