Addiction Treatment Centers Settle ADA Complaint

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas-based operator of addiction treatment centers has agreed to pay $25,000 to settle allegations it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.

Valley Hope Association of Norton, Kan., which operates sixteen addiction treatment centers in seven states, signed the agreement with the Justice Department. The agreement resolves allegations that Valley Hope offered its residential treatment services on a less than equal basis to individuals with HIV/AIDS. 

After an investigation, it was alleged that Valley Hope had a policy or practice that individuals with HIV/AIDS were required to stay in separate rooms during residential treatment unless they revealed their HIV/AIDS status to their potential roommate. Furthermore, Valley Hope had a policy or practice that prevented individuals with HIV/AIDS from engaging in certain work activities around the residential facility.

Under the agreement, Valley Hope is required to adopt measures to ensure that individuals with disabilities can fully and equally enjoy the various goods, services, facilities, and accommodations provided at Valley Hope treatment centers. Valley Hope will adopt and implement a formal non-discrimination policy that will be posted in each facility and on its website and provide mandatory annual training on title III of the ADA to Valley Hope’s employees and contractors. Under the settlement, Valley Hope will also pay $20,000.00 to the complainant and a $5,000 civil penalty.

For more information on the ADA and HIV, visit http://www.ada.gov/aids . Those interested in finding out more about these settlements or the obligations of public accommodations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov . ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov