Rothschild v. Grottenthaler,  725 F. Supp. 776,  (2^nd Cir. (SD NY 1989)

The court held that the school district  was required to provide sign language interpreters for deaf parents of hearing children only for school-initiated activities related to child’s academic or disciplinary progress.  Plaintiffs, deaf parents of hearing students, sued the school district for failing to provide sign language interpreters at school-initiated conferences.  They sought declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief for claims under the Rehabilitation Act and the Civil Rights Act alleging denial of equal access relative to their inability to participate in the academic and disciplinary aspects of their children’s education.  Defendants moved to dismiss claiming they were not required under the Rehabilitation Act to provide sign language interpreters to deaf parents of hearing children.  The court held in part that if true, the allegations would establish that the plaintiffs were “otherwise qualified” and therefore defendant, a federally financed institution, was obligated to provide and pay for sign language interpreters for school-initiated conferences or activities designed for parental involvement.  The court specifically emphasized that interpreters needed for all other extra-curricular or school-sponsored activities in which the parents voluntarily chose to participate were to be at their own expense.