Tuesday, September 10, 2019
The Justice Department today reached a settlement agreement with the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA) to resolve the allegation that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying a student with disabilities a reasonable modification of its rule regarding minimum course enrollment as necessary to allow the student to compete interscholastically on her high school swim team. IHSAA allows non-diploma track students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to compete interscholastically without regard to minimum course enrollment, but initially refused to modify its rule for a diploma track student with an IEP. Upon the initiation of this investigation, IHSAA granted the student a reasonable modification to allow the student to compete interscholastically. Under the three-year agreement, IHSAA will be required to comply with the ADA; publicly post its revised accommodation policy on its website, which will also include information about how to request modifications or accommodations to its rules; appoint an ADA Coordinator; provide ADA training to its staff; report to the United States; and pay $7,500 in compensatory damages to the student.
If you are interested in finding out more about the ADA or this agreement, you can visit the ADA website or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD).
Article Credit: U.S. Department of Justice
Contributor Credit: CASI's Staff provided this story; if you know of an article that is relevant to CASI, please share by sending an email to info@casinstitute.