Food Allergies a "Disability" Under ADA, DOJ Rules

The Justice Dept. has ruled that the Americans With Disabilities Act applies to students with food allergies at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, who claimed that the school's food services and meal plans were inadequate for their needs,

The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice recently ruled that the Americans With Disabilities Act applies to students with food allergies at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, who claimed that the school's food services and meal plans were inadequate for their needs, reports Inside Higher Ed. The agreement with DOJ requires Lesley to provide gluten- and allergen-free food options in its dining halls, offer special meal plans for students with allergies and pay $50,000 in damages to the students who filed the claim in 2009, among other measures.

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Anonymous (not verified)
on Jan 21, 2013

If the school was unaware of these allergies than they should not be fined and I think 50,000 dollars could be better put to use. Most ppl with allergies of any kind pack their own lunch or make arrangements to accomodate their own allergies. Their allergies Their responsibility

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