Brookline School Under Investigation for Alleged Violation of Americans with Disabilities Act

BROOKLINE, MA — After a quadriplegic five-year-old was denied admission to Brookline's Park School, the U.S. Attorney's office has embarked on an investigation.

That's according to The Boston Globe, which reports this week that the prestigious private academy is under investigation for allegedly violating the American's with Disabilities Act, after denying admission to Harper Oates, of Brookline, whose spinal cord injury at birth left her mobility-challenged, but cognitively healthy.

In a statement, Park School told the Globe:

“The school engaged in an open, good-faith discussion with the Oates family about how Harper could thrive and have an enriching and fulfilling academic experience. After much careful and thoughtful deliberation, however, serious concerns remained that the Park School could not meet Harper’s educational needs."

Harper has a one-on-one aide and did not need additional accommodations, her parents contend. Still, Park said in its statement, the school concluded her needs "would have fundamentally altered our educational model.”

Read the full story in The Boston Globe.

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