Department of Justice Seal



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1997                         (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


          NATIONWIDE CHILD CARE CHAIN AGREES TO PROVIDE
             SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Children with serious food allergies,
diabetes, and other disabilities will now be able to attend
daycare at centers across the country under an agreement reached
today between the nation's second largest child care provider and
the Justice Department.  
  
    According to the agreement, La Petite Academy, Inc., which
operates more than 750 day care centers nationwide, will change
its policies to ensure that children with disabilities can be
cared for appropriately at its facilities.  The agreement
resolves several complaints filed with the Justice Department
under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

      "Quality child care is essential for all working parents,"
said Attorney General Janet Reno.  "Today's agreement will ensure
that families of children with disabilities will not have to face
additional obstacles when seeking daycare."

     A major portion of the agreement requires that daycare staff
administer epinephrine, a form of adrenaline, to those children
who experience life-threatening allergic reactions to certain
foods, such as peanuts, or bee stings.  If authorized by parents
and a physician, La Petite staff will use a small pen-like device
(sold as Epipen, Jr., or under other names) that carries a pre-
measured dose of epinephrine to alleviate a reaction.  The staff
person simply removes a safety cap and presses the pen against
the thigh of the child, discharging the epinephrine.

     Under the agreement La Petite will also:
*    implement a policy to provide finger prick tests to measure
     the blood glucose levels of children with diabetes;

*    ensure that staff at two centers help children with mobility
     impairments gain access to toilets, and make accessibility
     improvements at another facility; and,

*    pay $55,000 to children whose parents claimed that their
     children could not attend La Petite unless the chain
     modified its policies.

     During the Justice Department investigation into the
administration of epinephrine, La Petite voluntarily requested
technical assistance concerning the monitoring of blood glucose
levels for children with diabetes.  The newly-adopted policy is
modeled on an August 1996 agreement between the Justice
Department and KinderCare, the nation's largest child care
provider.
  
     It is estimated that one to three percent of school children
nationwide have severe allergies that may require administration
of epinephrine and that more than 100,000 children under the age
of 18 have diabetes.

     "By adopting these new policies, La Petite Academy is
providing more opportunities for children with disabilities,"
added Reno.

     Under the policies announced today, La Petite is not liable
for the care of children with diabetes or severe allergies as
long as it takes reasonable care when following written orders
from a child's physician and parents.  Parents will be required
to provide any special equipment and sign an authorization form
every six months. 

     LaPetite Academy has centers in the following states:
Alabama (18), Arizona(21), Arkansas (9), California (62),
Colorado (26), Delaware (1), Florida (116), Georgia (56),
Illinois (16), Indiana (17), Iowa (9), Kansas (22), Kentucky (3),
Louisiana (1), Maryland (14), Mississippi (7), Missouri (36),
Nebraska (7), Nevada (7), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (4), North
Carolina (30), Ohio (16), Oklahoma (27), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania
(3), South Carolina (28), Texas (135), Utah (4), Virginia (35),
Washington, D.C. (1), Washington (16), Wisconsin (2), Wyoming
(1).

     The Department also released a new publication today
entitled, "Commonly Asked Questions About Child Care Centers and
the ADA".  Individuals interested in obtaining a copy of this
publication or in learning more about the ADA can call the
Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or
(800) 514-0383 (TDD).  The Department also sponsors an ADA Home
Page on The World Wide Web.  The Internet address is: 
         [http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm].    
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