Today the Justice Department announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Northern Michigan University (NMU). The settlement agreement resolves complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that NMU discriminated against students with mental health disabilities. Specifically, the Department investigated allegations that NMU took adverse action against certain students with mental health disabilities, including allegations that the University required certain students to sign contracts that barred them from talking, even with their friends at NMU, about self-destructive thoughts or face discipline, including involuntary withdrawal from the University. Under the agreement, NMU agreed to pay a total of $173,500 in compensatory damages to four (4) aggrieved individuals identified by the United States in its investigation. NMU will also adopt and implement policies and conduct training.
For more information about the ADA and the agreement please access the ADA Web page at https://www.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383.
