“As summer approaches and parents make arrangements to send their children to camps, we want to make sure that children with disabilities receive an equal opportunity to attend and experience summer camp,” U.S. Attorney Parker said. “Reasonable accommodations are a requirement under the law.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio has mailed the attached flyer to dozens of summer camps located in the southern half of the state.
Under the ADA, summer camps, both private and those run by municipalities, must make reasonable modifications to enable campers with disabilities to participate fully in all camp programs and activities.
Children with disabilities are generally entitled to attend any camp or activity, camps must evaluate each child on an individual basis, and camps must train their staff in the requirements of the ADA.
Camps are obligated to pay for the cost of any reasonable modifications necessary for children with disabilities to participate in camp activities, and parents should not be charged any additional fee beyond standard camp enrollment costs.
Additional information about the ADA can be found by visiting www.ada.gov, calling the Department of Justice ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY), or by emailing the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAOHS.CivilRights@usdoj.gov.
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