Home / 4-H Settlement Agreement: Camps Cannot Discriminate against Children with Diabetes

In the spring of 2018, New London’s 4H Camp did not accept a child because of her Type 1 Diabetes.

The Camp claimed that the child had to perform her own diabetes care, including insulin injections.

The parent was concerned and withdrew her daughter’s camp application – which resulted in much disappointment and frustration. She and her siblings had attended the 4H camp in earlier summers and were looking forward to returning in 2018.

The mother reached out to the Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) to find out what their legal options were for future summer programs. She had offered to provide support while her daughter was at camp, and had suggested that the camp protocol put her daughter at risk. 4H did not respond.

CCA attorney Bonnie Roswig’s repeated calls and emails to 4H also got no response, and she filed a Complaint with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on April 9, 2019.

The DOJ pursued this violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the case settled after extensive negotiations between Attorney Roswig and 4H.

The Settlement Agreement, which has national implications, includes the following:

1. 4H violated the ADA by failing to make reasonable modifications to its policies and practices
2. 4H refused to train staff in the administration of glucagon
3. 4H refused to conduct an individualized assessment to evaluate whether they could make reasonable modifications
4. 4H was ordered to:
5. Not discriminate against children with diabetes
6. Make reasonable modifications to their policies and practices
7. Supervise and provide required medical supports including insulin pumps, insulin injections, oversite of food consumption, etc.
8. Train a layperson to provide the range of diabetes care if parent and physician agree
9. If a child is denied admission, that denial must be provided to DOJ
10. Place information on how to request reasonable modification on the camp website
11. Conduct an individualized assessment for any child with diabetes wishing to attend camp
12. Provide training to relevant staff that includes ADA compliance

Click to learn more about Protecting Children with Diabetes
Attending School, Camp, Day Care and After Care Programs

Click to read the full February 2021 Settlement Agreement 

Questions or more information, email CCA Attorney Bonnie Roswig