Lawsuit Settlement Requires School to Follow Americans with Disabilities Act

By Robert Carrier

Published on October 18, 2007

Tim Taylor, the fire marshal for the city of Lawton, alleged that his son Ryan, who suffers from cerebral palsy and Spastic Diplegia, has difficulty getting around MacArthur High School, where he is currently enrolled as a junior. Taylor claims that his son’s high school does not meet the standards outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that, as a result, Ryan has trouble getting to and from his classes and participating in school activities.

On Tuesday, Taylor settled his lawsuit with the school district, and according to school officials, no monetary compensation is being awarded to the Taylor family. District officials have agreed to implement changes throughout area campuses, including MacArthur High School, as soon as funds are available. A spokesman for the district said the changes were going to be implemented eventually, but the lawsuit expedited the process.

The Taylor family and their lawyer are expected to issue an official statement on the settlement sometime next week.

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