Child Care Centers Are Responsible For Complying With The ADA

The purpose of the ADA is "to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities".  For profit daycare centers are responsible for complying with Title III of the Act.

The requirements for profit child care centers include:

1. inclusion of disabled children unless the child would present a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would require a fundamental alteration of the center's program 
2. reasonable modifications to the policies and practices of the daycare center in order to integrate disabled children
3. provide auxiliary aids needed for effective communication with adults or children with disabilities so long as the auxiliary aid does not constitute an undue burden
4. make the facility accessible to persons with disabilities

The law protects the daycare in some of the following ways:

1. Daycare centers are not required to provide personal services to disabled children that are different than those provided to other enrolled children
2. Any additional training you or your staff require in order to include a disabled child must be provided by the child's parents at the parents' expense
3. A disabled child requiring one on one supervision or medical attention that would require a fundamental alteration of the program must be included IF the parent provides the additional supervision or medical services at no cost to the daycare center

The cornerstone of the law is the requirement for an individual assessment of a disabled child.  This means you must receive information from all professionals involved in the child's disability in order to establish an appropriate plan of care.

Call Block Insurance 800-225-0863.