Young Shakespeare Players East – a theater group for children ages 7 to 18 years located in Turners Falls, MA – has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding a discrimination complaint calling for the company to provide reasonable modifications to accommodate children with disabilities.
The complaint charged the company failed to accommodate Mason Wicks-Kim of Amherst, an 11 year-old boy with a severe peanut allergy, then retaliated against Trinity Picone-Louro of Wendell, a 12 year-old boy who protested the exclusion of Wicks-Kim.
Under the terms of the settlement announced by the DOJ this week, the company will enact a non-discrimination policy, provide proper training for staff and will seek to provide “reasonable modifications” for disabled participants.
“Children with disabilities should be able to pursue their interests and participate in a full range of programs and activities,” said Acting US Attorney William D Weinreb.
Young Shakespeare Players East issued a press release accepting the settlement without admitting to wrongdoing.
The settlement does not bring resolution to the issue according to Mary Vargas, the attorney representing Wicks-Lim and Picone-Louro. Complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination are still pending.
- Young Shakespeare Players-East of Turners Falls, DOJ reach settlement in discrimination complaint – MassLive
- YOUNG SHAKESPEARE PLAYERS EAST, INC. SETTLES NUT ALLERGY DISCRIMINATION CLAIM WITH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, RECEIVING NO FINE OR PENALTY – Scribd
- MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION – COMPLAINT – Scribd