A child who cannot tell us what happened to them should not be left without evidence when something goes wrong.

My name is Shellby, and I am the mother of Elijah, an autistic child with significant communication challenges.

I am asking Kentucky lawmakers to pass Elijah’s Law, requiring secure video surveillance in appropriate areas of ABA therapy facilities and special education settings serving some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children.

Why am I fighting for Elijah’s Law?

In January 2026, my son came home from his ABA clinic covered in bruises.

Elijah could not tell me what happened.

I photographed his injuries and contacted law enforcement. CPS became involved. I did everything I knew to do as his mother because I needed to know what had happened to my child.

But there were no cameras in the facility to provide answers.

There was no footage for investigators to review.

Eventually, the investigation was closed because there was not enough evidence to pursue the matter. I wasn’t even notified when the investigation was closed.

I was left never knowing exactly what happened to my son.

Elijah now experiences significant anxiety surrounding going to the bathroom. Based on the circumstances, I have concerns that this may be where something happened to him. But because Elijah cannot reliably explain what occurred and there was no video evidence, I may never know.

No parent should have to live with that question.

And no child’s inability to communicate should be the reason the truth cannot be discovered.

The lack of speech should never mean a lack of evidence.

This Is Bigger Than Elijah!!

There are children throughout Kentucky who are non-speaking, autistic, intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled, or otherwise unable to reliably communicate what happens to them while their parents aren’t present.

Some cannot tell us:

“Someone hurt me.”

“I’m scared of this person.”

“This is where it happened.”

“I didn’t do what they said I did.”

Or even simply:

“Something happened today.”

Parents may instead discover unexplained bruises, injuries, sudden behavioral changes, fear of particular places or people, regression, or severe anxiety, and have no way of knowing what happened.

When an allegation involves a child who cannot describe the incident and there are no witnesses or recordings, investigators may have very little evidence available to determine the truth.

That needs to change!

What Elijah’s Law Would Do:

I am asking Kentucky lawmakers to establish reasonable video surveillance protections for vulnerable children receiving special education and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services.

Elijah’s Law should require:

● Secure video surveillance in designated ABA treatment areas, therapy rooms and common treatment areas where services are provided to children.

● Secure video surveillance in appropriate special education classrooms and related areas where students with significant disabilities receive services.

● Absolutely no cameras in bathrooms, changing areas or other areas where children have a reasonable expectation of bodily privacy.

● Cameras positioned so that treatment/classroom areas are adequately visible rather than merely recording entrances or hallways.

● Secure storage of recordings for a reasonable minimum period.

● Longer preservation of footage whenever there is an injury, allegation of abuse or neglect, restraint, reportable incident, law enforcement investigation, CPS investigation, or parent request concerning a specific incident.

● Strict protections preventing unauthorized viewing, copying, posting or distribution of footage.

● Appropriate access to relevant recordings for parents or guardians when their child is involved in a serious incident, subject to safeguards protecting the privacy of other children.

● Access for law enforcement, child-protection investigators and appropriate regulatory agencies when investigating allegations involving a child.

● Serious consequences for intentionally disabling, obstructing, deleting, altering or tampering with required surveillance footage.

Cameras Protect Good Teachers and Therapists, Too

Elijah’s Law is not an attack on ABA providers, RBTs, BCBAs, teachers, paraprofessionals or other professionals who dedicate their lives to helping children with disabilities.

They deserve protection too.

A camera doesn’t decide who is guilty.

It helps establish what actually happened.

If a child is accidentally injured, footage can show that.

If an employee follows proper procedures during a difficult behavioral episode, footage can show that.

If an employee is falsely accused of mistreating a child, footage can help clear that person’s name.

And if someone does hurt or mistreat a vulnerable child, investigators should have evidence available to hold that person accountable.

Transparency protects children, families and ethical professionals.

Kentucky Has Already Recognized This Problem!

Kentucky lawmakers introduced legislation in 2026 that would have required video and audio surveillance systems in self-contained special education classrooms.

That proposal recognized something families of children with disabilities already understand:

Some of our most vulnerable children need additional safeguards.

I am asking Kentucky lawmakers to continue that work, and to ensure that children receiving ABA therapy are protected as well.

A child’s protection should not disappear when they leave their special education classroom and enter a therapy facility.

I Can’t Change What Happened to Elijah

I can’t go back and put cameras in the building that day.

I can’t create footage that doesn’t exist.

I can’t make my son tell me something he isn’t able to explain.

And I may never know exactly why my child came home covered in bruises.

But I can take what happened to my family and try to make sure another family doesn’t end up in the same position.

That’s why I’m asking Kentucky to pass Elijah’s Law.

If our state entrusts facilities and schools with children who may be unable to report mistreatment themselves, we should make sure objective evidence exists when something serious happens.

Please Stand With Elijah

I’m asking parents, grandparents, educators, RBTs, BCBAs, therapists, disability advocates, law-enforcement professionals and every Kentuckian who believes vulnerable children deserve protection to stand with us.

Please sign this petition.

Then share it.

Send it to your Kentucky representative and senator.

Share it with ABA clinics, schools, therapists, disability organizations and other families.

Talk about Elijah’s Law.

If enough of us speak together, we can make sure Kentucky lawmakers hear us.

I may never get the answers I needed for Elijah.

But together, we can make sure the next child has evidence that can speak when they cannot.

The lack of speech should never mean a lack of evidence.

Please sign and share to help bring Elijah’s Law to Kentucky.