U.S. Attorney's Office Reaches Agreement with Mount Pleasant Public Schools to Provide Appropriate Care for Student With Diabetes

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has reached a settlement with the Mt. Pleasant Public School District to resolve allegations that the district violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by failing to provide appropriate care for students with diabetes, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. The settlement resolves a complaint alleging that the school district did not properly train its staff in providing diabetes care to students, and failed to provide adequate care to a student with diabetes. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, including diabetes, in public schools. Schools are required to make reasonablemodifications to their policies so that all students, including those with disabilities, have equal access to the school’s programs and activities. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the school district will create an administrative guideline governing procedures for diabetes care at all schools in the district. The guideline will include a complaint procedure that parents or guardians can follow if they believe their children are not receiving appropriate care. In addition, the district will provide training to its staff on recognizing and responding to diabetes symptoms, and providing care or assisting with self-care for students with diabetes. “All parents, including parents of children with diabetes, should be able to send their children to school in the morning feeling confident that they will receive appropriate care during school hours,” McQuade said. “We commend the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools for working cooperatively to reach this settlement, and for ensuring that all students with diabetes will have an equal opportunity to attend school and participate in school programs and activities.” Those interested in finding out more about this settlement or the obligations of public entities under the ADA may call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at 313-226-9151, or send an email to www.usamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov. Information is also available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383(TDD), or at www.ada.gov.