The claim was discrimination against a CT child with autism and diabetes. This settlement was reached.

The federal government has entered a settlement agreement with a Connecticut provider of therapy and therapeutic services for children to resolve claims the company discriminated against a child with autism spectrum disorder and Type 1 diabetes, according to federal authorities.

The allegation was that Creative Interventions LLC, a private company in Windsor, refused to monitor the child’s “continuous glucose monitor” or to provide other “routine diabetes care” while the child attended the program, according to federal authorities.

A message seeking comment was left with Creative Interventions.

Authorities said Creative Interventions provides applied behavior analysis therapy and “other therapeutic services for children with autism spectrum disorder,”  in private homes, public schools, and at its Windsor business, where there was a “drop-off program for young children.”

Some of the services are provided as part of the state’s Birth to Three Program, according to federal authorities.

Authorities said the matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut by the Center for Children’s Advocacy “on behalf of the parents of a child with Type 1 diabetes who was enrolled at the Creative Interventions Achievement Clinic from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., five days a week.”

The complaint was that, after the child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, staff at the business allegedly “refused to provide the child’s diabetes-related care and, instead, required a parent to come to the clinic to provide the care,” authorities said in a statement.  “Among other things, the child’s diabetes management plan requires a caregiver to monitor a CGM, which shows the child’s blood sugar levels, and requires a caregiver to be prepared to address high or low blood sugar readings by providing a fast-acting carbohydrate or glucagon or insulin, if necessary.”

Following an investigation, the government alleged that “Creative Interventions discriminated against the child and the child’s parents, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by refusing to have its staff provide this routine diabetes care to the child,” the statement said. “The government found that monitoring the child’s CGM and providing the other routine diabetes care specified by the child’s care plan (including the administration of insulin and glucagon) were reasonable modifications under the ADA that Creative Interventions staff should have provided, with proper training.”

Further, under terms of the settlement agreement, “Creative Interventions has agreed not to discriminate against children with disabilities in the future,” authorities said. “Creative Interventions will also implement new policies and procedures for handling requests for reasonable modifications that are consistent with the ADA and will provide training to its staff on the ADA.”

As part of the settlement, authorities said Creative Interventions also agreed that, “where a child’s parents and health care team consent, its non-medical staff will obtain training and provide routine diabetes care for children with Type 1 Diabetes, including monitoring a child’s CGM and administering glucagon and insulin, if necessary, as reasonable modifications under the ADA.”

Federal authorities also said Creative Interventions agreed to pay $15,000 to the complainant in the matter.

“Children with diabetes and their families are entitled to equal access to child care and health care,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.  “I thank Creative Interventions for cooperating with our investigation and agreeing to comply with the ADA going forward.”

The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance, authorities said.