Lawsuit: IHSA subject to Americans with Disabilities Act
August 06, 2012 10:26 pm, By Edith Brady-Lunny | eblunny@pantagraph.com
CHICAGO — The Illinois High School Association should be required to provide equal competition opportunities for athletes with disabilities, according to arguments filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in a federal lawsuit pending against the Bloomington-based organization.
The Statement of Interest by federal prosecutors supports the position of Illinois Attorney Lisa Madigan that the IHSA is required to follow all the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, including a rule that prohibits discrimination by private entitles that own, lease or operate places of public accommodation.
The Justice Department has not asked to intervene in the lawsuit but asked a judge to consider its opinion that the IHSA is a public accommodation as defined by Title III of the ADA.