The Echo

Woman cites anti-dwarf bias at school
By Tony Castro, Staff Writer

Jamie Aparicio as a high school varsity cheerleader. A North Hollywood dwarf Thursday filed a federal disability discrimination complaint against a Reseda career college that allegedly kicked her out because staff did not believe she could ever be employed as a medical assistant.

Lydia "Jamie" Aparicio, 20, made the complaint against Everest College, formerly known as Bryman College, where she enrolled last fall.

Aparicio, who was born with Morquio Syndrome – a form of dwarfism – stands 3 feet, 7 inches tall.

In March, Aparicio was dropped from the school's medical assistance program. One representative told her she would never be hired in the medical field because of her height and disabilities, according to her complaint alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Everest College, which is part of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., denied Aparicio's allegations and said she was removed from the school because she "was not able to maintain the academic requirements of the medical assisting program."

"Lydia Aparicio was treated like any other student at Everest College," college spokesman Robert Jaffe said in an e-mail statement. "She was dropped from her medical assisting program at Everest College-Reseda for continued failing grades."

Jaffe said the school's director of education met with Aparicio several times to inform her that she was at risk of being dropped. On Nov. 19, 2009, she was placed on academic probation and every month after that.

"Lydia confirmed her understanding of her status in writing," Jaffe said.

Aparicio received extra tutoring from her instructors, but even with additional help was not able to keep up with the program's academic standards, he said.

In an emotional press conference, Aparicio told reporters she was denied a chance to fulfill dreams of working in the medical field.

"If I put my heart to it and I really want to do something, I would eventually get to that point where I would have done it," said a teary-eyed Aparicio.

Aparicio's attorney, Gloria Allred, showed photographs of her client, including one as a cheerleader at John Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley.

Allred said that Everest officials had also discriminated against her by not allowing her to take her wheelchair into the classroom and not being given a "scrub" uniform sized to her height.

"We believe that Jamie has been discriminated against because of her disability," Allred said. "No student should have to suffer exclusion from an educational institution because of their disability."

Allred said Aparicio has always succeeded in school and received numerous awards, including one from the White House. She told reporters the experience at Everest College is the first time in her life she has felt discrimination because of her size.

"When I was told suddenly that I could not return to Everest College – and that I could not even pick up my things that I had left in my class, I was devastated," she said in a prepared statement.

"All of my life I had been encouraged to get an education and be the very best I could be. I was never told before that I could not do something or take a class because of my disability."

Aparicio graduated from Polytechnic High School where she attended general education classes.

She was a varsity cheerleader for three years and recognized by the state at the 2008 Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities in Sacramento.

"Lydia is a good person of high character," said April Hood, an assistant principal at Polytechnic High, who knew Aparicio when she attended the school.