In Lexington, Kentucky, a homeowner’s association wants a family to tear down a playhouse that the parents build for their child. The playhouse has been specially designed as a therapeutic tool to help their child, who has cerebral palsy. The group that enforces the Americans With Disabilities Act is investigating the situation.
A three year old boy named Cooper Veloudis lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his family. He has cerebral palsy. CP is a neurological disorder that appears when a child is an infant, or is still in early childhood. This disorder affects a person’s body movements and muscle control. Symptoms can include a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements, stiff muscles, spasticity, walking on toes, or walking with a scissored gait.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy. However, there are treatments that can help a child with CP to have the most independent life possible. These treatments include physical therapy, occupational therapy, surgery, speech therapy, and medications. The more that the physical and occupational therapies are used, the better the outcome for the child. It also helps to start treatment as early as possible.
Cooper’s parents build a $5,000 therapeutic playhouse in their backyard. A therapist recommended it. The playhouse has things built into it that are designed to help Cooper with his physical and occupational therapy. For example, it allows him to practice climbing stairs, (something that is a challenge for kids who have CP). The entire playhouse encourages him to be more active, which is important.
Unfortunately, the neighborhood homeowner association has demanded that Cooper’s parents tear down the playhouse. They say that the playhouse is in violation of the rules, which do not allow for structures that are not attached to a house. They even went so far as to fine Cooper’s family $50.00 each day until the playhouse was removed.
Personally, I think that the homeowner’s association is discriminating against a child who has a disability. I am not the only one with this opinion. Cooper’s parents have put up a Facebook page that gives updates about the situation. As I am writing this blog, I see that 8,258 people have “liked” this page.
The group that enforces the Americans With Disabilities Act is investigating the situation, and the Veloudis family has connected with a lawyer. The ultimate outcome has yet to be determined. Obviously, the right decision would be to let a child with a disability to continue to have access to a small playhouse that encourages him, and enables him, to receive the physical and occupational therapy he requires.
I haven’t read anything that specifically states why the homeowners association thinks that it is morally acceptable to take a therapeutic tool away from Cooper, but, if I had to guess, it probably has something to do with the association’s perception of how other people’s yards should look. Shame on the homeowners association that values an aesthetic choice over the therapeutic needs of a child with a disability!
Image by Cindy Funk on Flickr