Lawsuit to ensure inclusion for students with DS

NDSS Partners with New Jersey Families and Affiliates in Lawsuit to Ensure Inclusion for Students with Down Syndrome

New York, January 23, 2007 The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) has been named an organizational plaintiff in the class action lawsuit Grieco et. al v. New Jersey Department of Education et. al. The lawsuit alleges that New Jersey is in violation of IDEA requirements that a student be placed in the least restrictive environment appropriate for individual students. The complaint also alleges discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In addition to NDSS, the plaintiffs in the case include three children with Down syndrome, their families, TASH, New Jersey TASH, The Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect, and the National Down Syndrome Congress. The lawsuit alleges that students with Down syndrome have been denied an inclusive education, denied additional hours of inclusion and not received appropriate supplementary aids and services to support inclusive education. Andrew Hamelsky, an attorney at White and Williams LLP in New Jersey and Barbara E. Ransom, with The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, are co-counsel on the lawsuit.
NDSS joined the lawsuit to provide support to the families involved with the hope of promoting systems change in New Jersey and opening more doors to students that want to be educated with their non-disabled peers across the country. NDSS Affiliates have traditionally been, and remain, uniquely positioned to provide a voice for students with Down syndrome in the governmental and judicial arenas regarding education policy.
Contact: Ricki SabiaNDSS National Policy Center800-743-5657rsabia@ndss.org