It’s All About the Kids Helps Fight Discrimination
Posted 01.21.2010 in Programs
It’s All About the Kids Foundation is committed to fight all discrimination. In 2007, Yvette Ogletree of Christie’s Place shared with our Foundation that there was a protest in Alabama, where a young boy with HIV was a victim of discrimination. The three year old boy was not allowed to swim or even shower at the Wales West RV Resort. She wanted to attend and represent San Diego. We gladly granted her an airplane ticket to Alabama. We are happy to announce that a lawsuit was won against the trailer park!
AIDS Issues Update: Features:
Justice Is Served for HIV-Positive Caleb Glover; Exclusive Interview with his Mom
![Justice Is Served for HIV-Positive Caleb Glover; Exclusive Interview with his Mom]()
A happy Caleb Glover, now age 5.
More than two-and-a-half years after an
HIV-positive toddler was denied access to a swimming pool in Silverhill, Alabama, justice has been served—or at least resolved. The U.S. Justice Department announced today it has settled an Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit requiring Wales West RV Resort owner Ken Zadnichek to pay $10,000 to the United States and $36,000 in damages to the family of Caleb Glover.
According to a
press release from the Justice Department, under the terms of the agreement Wales West LLC will establish policies, procedures and
training practices to ensure that patrons and their families are not discriminated against on the basis of disability.
“Ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not subjected to discriminatory, stigmatizing treatment based on unfounded fears and stereotypes is critically important. The ADA protects individuals with HIV and other disabilities from this kind of discrimination,“said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
Caleb was banned from the resort’s pool and shower in May 2007, after his then-foster mother Silvia Glover told a Wales West staffer her Caleb has HIV. Frustrated, Glover told the local tv station, and the case gained national attention. When Zadnichek failed to fully apologize for his actions, the
Campaign to End AIDS “organized a Labor Day
family reunion, of HIV-positive people from across the country to raise awareness of HIV stigma and discrimination. Around 60 members of the C2EA arrived from as far away as San Diego and Columbus Ohio, for a day of camping, barbecuing, and, of course, swimming with Caleb, as his foster mother Silvia looked on.
Silvia Glover speaks
In an interview with the Update, Silvia Glover, now Caleb’s adoptive mother, said she never filed a civil suit against Wales West, but is grateful for the Department of Justice lawsuit.
“I’m really pleased by the fact that they did acknowledge discriminated against Caleb,” Glover said. Under the terms of the suit, Glover, whose husband died in 2008, will receive $12,000 a year for three years from Zadnichek, money that will go to Caleb.
“I’m blessed that I can meet my everyday needs. But I’m an older lady raising a young child. I might not be around always,” Glover said. She worries about when Caleb will age out of Medicaid at 18. She also wants to put down money for his college fund. “Right now he says he wants to be a doctor.” She added jokingly, “I can’t imagine why, with all the doctors he sees.”
Caleb eats through a feeding tube and has cerebral palsy. But he attends Pre-K and is doing well. “He loves school,” Glover said. “He bounces out of here every morning. We’re thoroughly enjoying him. He’s been the best blessing.”
Author: Angela
Co-Founder and Executive Director of It's All About the Kids and Partying for a Purpose. She creates new and innovative programs for the over 600 children in Southern California and produces all the fundraisers for the Foundation.
One Response to “It’s All About the Kids Helps Fight Discrimination”
I just want to say thank you to It’s All About the Kids Foundation for allowing me to participate in such an amazing opportunity. When I brought the situation to the attention of Co-Founder and Executive Director Angela Brannon, she was more than eager to assist me in any way possible. With less than 24 hours notice, I was on a plane, funded by It’s All About the Kids Foundation heading to Washington D.C. I then started my 18 hour caravan down to Wales West R.V. Park in Alabama, to protest the discrimination of little Caleb Glover. Without the help of this amazing organization, my participation would not have been possible. Little Caleb may read one day, how people who didn’t even know him fought so hard to stand up for his rights. He will also understand how, It’s All About the Kids Foundation played a role in him now having a settlement that will give him the financial ability to attend college.