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U.S. Attorney John Durham announced that the settlement resolves a complaint that was filed by the parents of a child with “severe food allergies” that alleged the Danbury Sports Dome refused to admit the child into a summer camp program due to said allergies.
Under the terms of the settlement, the Danbury Sports Dome “will implement new nondiscriminatory policies, practices, and procedures regarding the admission of and programming for children with disabilities who wish to attend their camps, programs, services, and activities.”
The Danbury Sports Zone has agreed to designate an employee to serve as its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator and stated it will train employees on compliance with the ADA. The sports facility also agreed to "revise its registration materials to inform parents of children with disabilities of their right to request reasonable modifications of the facility’s programs and will post to its website the nondiscrimination policy approved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to Durham, “under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of ‘public accommodation,’ including gymnasiums and other places of exercise and recreation, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.”
“The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities,” the DA noted. “The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act, which ensures that individuals are able to access and enjoy places of public accommodation in Connecticut, including the state’s gymnasiums and other places of exercise and recreation,” Durham stated. “Throughout our investigation, the management of Danbury Sports Dome showed its commitment to complying with the ADA and making all changes necessary to accommodate children with disabilities at its facility.”
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