URI PhD Student Says She Didn’t “Eat or Drink” on Campus Due to Lack of ADA-Compliance
GoLocalProv News Team and News Editor Kate Nagle
URI PhD Student Says She Didn’t “Eat or Drink” on Campus Due to Lack of ADA-Compliance
In a 36-page complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court, Cumberland resident Rachel Young says that after enrolling in the fall of 2025, URI “failed to provide her with classrooms in a building that had an ADA-compliant restroom, accessible doors and hallways, an accessible path, and accessible parking.”
“During the time that she attended classes, she purposely did not eat or drink from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid needing to use the restroom or having an accident,” according to the lawsuit. “This led to extreme exhaustion, fatigue, and dehydration.”
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“Access to a restroom is a fundamental civil right, necessary for human health, safety, and dignity,” according to Young’s lawsuit against URI. “ADA has set clear standards for accessible restrooms since July 26, 1991."
Saideman told GoLocal that URI has now hired "outside counsel" in response to the lawsuit.
Bathroom, Parking - and More
According to the lawsuit, Young was admitted and enrolled in the PhD program in Computer and Statistical Sciences at URI, and began classes this fall.
Young, who is from Cumberland, has had a disability, spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, “since her birth on January 14, 1991, less than six months after the ADA was signed into law,” according to the lawsuit. “Among other things, a disability results in gait and balance impairments. [Young] sometimes requires the use of crutches, sometimes the use of a walker, and sometimes the use of a wheelchair.”
“Because of her disability, she has the lived experience of a person with a mobility impairment and has become intimately familiar with the ADA requirements for access that enable her, as a person with a disability, to have equal access,” the lawsuit continues.
The lawsuit says that “URI told her that it was unable to provide her with a classroom in a building that had an accessible restroom and was otherwise accessible or relocate her classrooms to a building with an accessible restroom and that was otherwise accessible.”
According to the lawsuit, when Young began classes at URI, Tyler Hall “did not have even one ADA-compliant restroom.”
“The first-floor restrooms were recommended...but neither restroom is ADA-compliant, and neither restroom is usable by someone who requires a wheelchair, a walker, or crutches,” according to the lawsuit.
“On information and belief, despite Ms. Young’s repeated complaints, URI did not require that the restrooms be reviewed by someone knowledgeable of the ADA standards to see if they complied with the ADA standards,” the lawsuit continued.
In addition, the lawsuit maintains that Young struggled with other access issues, including doors in Tyler Hall being “so heavy” that Young was unable to independently open the door to leave the classroom.
“She had to bang on the glass doors of the classroom until someone saw her and opened the door. She was worried that she would be trapped in the classroom,” according to the lawsuit.
Curb ramps were another area identified in the lawsuit.
“URI staff told [Young] that universities are only required to provide curb at the shuttle bus stop and not along the complete path to the building,” according to the lawsuit. “Some professors and bus drivers recommended that [Young] go through Avedisian Hall to get from the Avedisian parking lot to Tyler Hall, but that was not possible because the interior ramp connecting the two buildings does not meet the ADA slope requirements.”
According to the lawsuit, it takes Young “45 minutes to walk from the car parked at Avedisian Hall to Tyler Hall to get to class with her walker and backpack. Because there is no accessible route, she has had multiple falls.”
The lawsuit also contends that Young was “usually unable to find vacant handicapped parking” at Tyler Hall” despite arriving early for class.
“Young reported parking violations because vehicles that did not have disabled placards or had disabled placards that did not display their expiration dates as required by Rhode Island law were parked in accessible parking spots or because accessible parking spots blocked or occupied by delivery trucks. She provided photos to URI staff,” states the lawsuit. “URI does not tow vehicles that are parked in accessible without valid, visible disability placards to free the parking spots for individuals with a valid disability placard.”
Appeal to University
According to the lawsuit, “Young tried to work with every office at URI, including DAI, Transportation (TAP), Public Safety, OEO, and the Computer and Statistical Sciences program. Unfortunately, none of these offices had the authority or ability or willingness to insist that URI provide Ms. Young with equal access and with reasonable accommodation in a timely manner.”
“Instead, she was advised to take a leave of absence, although there was no guarantee that the access issues would be remedied in time for the January term or even for Fall 2026,” the lawsuit states.
Young is suing URI on the grounds of ADA violations; violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and violation of the RI Civil Rights of People with Disabilities Act.
Moreover, it is seeking an injunction “to develop a plan to remove and otherwise remedy the architectural barriers that prevent [Young] from being able to participate in her Ph.D. program, including ordering an ADA-compliant restroom on each floor of the Tyler Hall, an accessible path of access from the parking lot and from the bus stop, and making comprehensive changes to bring the Tyler Hall into compliance with the ADA so that [Young] is able to attend school in the term starting in January 2026 and that all renovations required for compliance with ADA…are completed by June 30, 2026.”
“Alternatively, move all her classes to another building (the same building for all classes) that is accessible and meets the ADA Standards,” the lawsuit continues.
In a statement to GoLocal, a spokesperson for URI said it “learned of the suit this week and is currently reviewing the claims.”
“Consistent with our institutional values, URI remains committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible, equitable, and diverse community. We take our obligations under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act seriously, and we have multiple offices dedicated to supporting and addressing the needs of all members of our community,” said Assistant Director of Communications Dawn Bergantino.
When reached for comment, Young’s attorney, Saideman, said, “It is my opinion that URI’s actions regarding my client were outrageous."
“While schools are not required to retrofit every building, they are required to provide program access, which can often be accomplished simply by moving classes to accessible buildings,” said Saideman. “As the ADA has been law since 1990, URI either knew or should have known of its legal obligation to provide Rachel with timely program access. However, URI has now hired outside counsel to advise it, and we are in discussions. At this point, we are talking about what is necessary to get Rachel back into school for the spring semester, which starts on January 20th.”