Resident says son was denied entry to town summer camp without disability assessment; board pledges follow-up

Victoria Kavanagh told the Andover Board of Selectmen on April 13 that her son, who has documented disabilities, was denied access to the town-sponsored Andover Summer Camp for a second year without any individual assessment or discussion of reasonable accommodations.

"I explained that my son, who has documented disabilities, was denied access to the Andover summer camp for the second year in a row without any individual assessment or any discussion of reasonable accommodations," Kavanagh said during the public-comment period. She told the board she first raised the issue by email on Oct. 1 and has received no acknowledgement or follow-up from the camp director, the Recreation Commission, the interim town administrator or the selectmen.

Kavanagh said she was not seeking a decision at the meeting but wanted the concern added to the public record and asked the town to engage "in a good-faith effort" to ensure children with disabilities have equal access to town programs. "When a town-sponsored program excludes a child with disabilities and the governing body declines to even acknowledge the issue, I have to consider what my other avenues are," she said.

The board responded that staff would follow up. "We will get back to you this week," the chair said after the remarks.

Why it matters: If substantiated, Kavanagh's account would raise potential compliance questions about accommodations under state or federal disability laws for a program that the board said uses town resources and is sponsored by the Andover Recreation Commission. The complaint also points to a communication breakdown: Kavanagh said she received no reply to a formal request sent to multiple town officials.

What the board said it would do: Board members did not debate or resolve the underlying enrollment decision at the April 13 meeting; they acknowledged the complaint on the record and promised a follow-up. Kavanagh said she seeks a collaborative resolution but flagged she may pursue other avenues if the town does not engage.

Next steps: The board indicated staff would contact Kavanagh this week. Any further action'for example, an individual assessment, policy change at the Recreation Commission, or referral to legal counsel'was not decided at the meeting and was described as pending.