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Private elementary schools refusing admission?

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 09:49
My daughter was diagnosed 8 months ago with epilepsy and we are now looking for an elementary school for her (in NYC). She is on medication and is having seizures rather rarely (every few weeks). The two local private schools to which we applied both refused her admission - one with the spurious claim that they were 'full', and the other by explicitly saying they were unable to manage her epilepsy. I understand that this is illegal, but am unsure what to do now. Understandably, we don't want to send our child to a school that has both discriminated against and rejected her, but feel we cannot let this injustice stand - not least to prevent it happening to the next kid. We feel we don't want to invest money and effort into a legal case, but would like to make the schools aware that this behavior is both unlawful and unfair. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what action we could take? Thanks for your help, Simon.

Comments

call the 24/7 help line. They

Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2018-02-28 - 11:17
call the 24/7 help line. They may know of schools that will take her and a bit more about the laws. They can also send information to schools with guidelines and even talk to them. That number is 1-800-332-1000

If you go to the top of this

Submitted by birdman on Wed, 2018-02-28 - 12:23
If you go to the top of this page and click Living with Epilepsy and then click Find your Local Epilepsy Foundation you will notice there are four local offices in New York.  A local office will not only be able to advise you but will probably provide persons to support you in your effort and help educate the schools if they have concerns.

It is only illegal if the

Submitted by Amy Jo on Wed, 2018-02-28 - 17:48
It is only illegal if the schools take federal monies. If they do, please complain to the state ombudsman.

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