Clawson child care reaches settlement over discrimination against child with peanut allergy

Sunny Skies Child Care in Clawson has reached a settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit over a claim of discrimination against a child with a peanut allergy.

The settlement ends an investigation by U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider’s civil rights unit over a complaint that the child care facility expelled a child from its program after learning she had a peanut allergy.

“Parents across Michigan relay on child care in order to work or go to school, and they expect that their children will not be denied access to care simply because of their child’s disability,” Schneider said in a statement Tuesday. “We are thankful to Sunny Skies Child Care for their cooperation in our investigation, and we are pleased that children with disabilities will continue to have access to quality child care under this settlement.”

The agreement requires Sunny Skies to train its staff on the Americans with Disabilities Act and pay $3,000 in damages to the family whose child was expelled.

Prosecutors said the child care facility at 529 Grove in Clawson worked cooperatively with the U.S. attorney’s office during the investigation to change policies to ensure children with disabilities are treated fairly and equally.