As a parent of a child on the spectrum, I am deeply disturbed and outraged by the comments made by Mayor Ken Nelson at a Town Council meeting on 4/15/24. His uneducated and discriminatory remarks about special needs children are not only harmful but also potentially dangerous. He suggested that any child who threatens another should be arrested, including special needs children. He even went as far as to say that a teenager who punches a teacher is suddenly considered a 'special needs' child because they weren't disciplined properly as a toddler.

My son has emotional dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, ADHD and now PTSD. We have tirelessly fought for his appropriate placement in school, for services he requires and even for his safety! Now we have to contend with an authority figure encouraging law enforcement officials and educators to arrest special needs children like my son.

This is unacceptable! Special needs children require more services and trained staff to help them navigate through life's challenges - not additional trauma or distrust of authority figures due to threats of arrest.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in 54 children in the U.S has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)- These numbers have now increased to one in 34 These kids need understanding, compassion, proper educational facilities - not punishment or criminalization!

We demand an immediate public apology from Mayor Ken Nelson along with retraction of his harmful statements. We also urge him to take steps towards educating himself about special needs individuals so he can better serve ALL constituents within Enfield CT including the special needs population or step down from his position as Mayor of Enfield.  

Please sign this petition if you believe in justice for all our kids - especially those with special needs who already face numerous challenges every day.