A Michigan college must allow a student with a cognitive impairment to live in student housing a U.S. district court has ruled.

Micah Fialka-Feldman, 25, attends a program called OPTIONS at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., which allows students with cognitive impairments to take classes and participate in extra-curricular activities without receiving credit. Fialka-Feldman, who has difficulty with reading and writing and would not typically qualify for admission to the university, pays a fee to attend much like other university students.

In 2007, Fialka-Feldman applied to live in the university’s dorms and was accepted, but school officials reversed course before he moved in. The reason: they said Fialka-Feldman did not qualify for university housing because he is not part of a degree-seeking program.

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Fialka-Feldman sued the school and in late December U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Duggan sided with the student, saying that the university’s housing policy “appears to be grounded on prejudice, stereotypes and/or unfounded fear,” reports The Detroit News. To read more click here.

University officials say they intend to appeal the ruling.

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