Discovery Zone Learning Center to Make Changes to Comply with ADA

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the government and the Discovery Zone Learning Center (“Discovery Zone”), a private childcare center with locations in Columbia, Hebron, and Marlborough, Connecticut, have entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations that Discovery Zone staff discriminated against a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder in violation of the Americans with Disability Act (“ADA”).

This matter was initiated by a complaint made with the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of a child with Autism.  Based on its investigation, the government found that Discovery Zone failed to reasonable modify its programs to accommodate the child, which resulted in Discovery Zone excluding the child from its childcare 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.  Discovery Zone has also agreed to pay $1,500 to the complainant.

“No family should have to worry that their child will be excluded from group childcare because the child is disabled,”  said U.S. Attorney 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. 

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.

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.