July 30, 2020
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with Spencer East Brookfield Regional School District in Spencer, Massachusetts to resolve its lawsuit alleging employment discrimination on the basis of disability.
The Justice Department’s complaint alleges that the School District terminated a paraprofessional with knee and shoulder impairments on the basis of her disability after 16 years of service to the School District. Further, the complaint alleges that the School District denied the employee’s reasonable accommodation request that, due to her physical limitations, she be excused from a new policy requiring paraprofessionals to be trained to physically restrain school children and be available to perform restraints.
Under the agreement, the School District will revise its policies to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), train staff on the ADA, and file periodic reports with the Department on implementation of the agreement. The School District will pay $85,699.49 in back pay and compensatory damages to its former employee.
To find out more about this complaint, agreement, or the ADA, call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at ADA.gov.
Article Credit: U.S. Department of Justice
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