United States Settles Claim Against Summer Camp That Revoked Admission For Young Camper With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement with Camp Treetops, a residential summer camp in Lake Placid, New York, under title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181- 12189 (ADA).  Title III prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodation, including summer camps.  Individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes fall within the protection of the ADA.

The settlement resolves claims made by Wenda Celidon, a resident of Valley Stream, New York, that Camp Treetops revoked its acceptance of her minor daughter, L.F., into its summer camp program and revoked a scholarship it had granted L.F. because she had insulin-dependent diabetes.  Ms. Celidon alleged that Camp Treetops initially accepted L.F. into the summer program, but one day before she was scheduled to leave for Camp Treetops, the Camp’s director revoked her admission and scholarship due to her insulin-dependent diabetes. 

Under the settlement, Camp Treetops will pay $13,500 to L.F., and adopt a written policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and creates a process for evaluating requests for reasonable modifications.  The Camp will also train its employees and staff regarding the disability discrimination provisions of federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including title III of the ADA.  

Under the terms of the settlement, Camp Treetops denies violating L.F.’s rights under the ADA.

“Discrimination against individuals, especially children with disabilities, is unacceptable,” stated United States Attorney Capers.  “The ADA requires that such children be given an equal opportunity to attend summer camps, an opportunity that was taken away from the child in this case.” 

The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rukhsanah Singh.