My name is Sherri Haasz and I am the concerned grandparent of a five-year-old grandson who attends a nonverbal autistic classroom at Sherman Elementary in Mansfield, Ohio. Our family, like many others, entrusts the safety and well-being of our loved ones to the educators and staff who work with them daily. It pains me to share that Sherman Elementary currently lacks the necessary safety measure of surveillance cameras within their specialized classrooms dedicated to nonverbal autistic children. Having cameras installed in these classrooms is not about mistrust but about ensuring that every nonverbal autistic child at Sherman Elementary is safeguarded at all times. For children who cannot communicate verbally, having these cameras creates an environment where they are protected and where caregivers can have peace of mind. It allows parents, guardians, and authorities to hold accountable the standards of care our children deserve. According to a study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, implementing surveillance in educational settings can reduce incidents of misunderstanding and miscommunication and can foster a greater sense of safety and accountability. For children with special needs, this level of security is crucial. While cameras are in place across various educational environments, special needs classrooms should equally benefit from this important safety measure. We are calling upon the Mansfield School District to take immediate action in installing cameras in nonverbal autistic classrooms at Sherman Elementary. Our goal is to ensure that the initiatives to protect our students keep pace with the specialized needs of these environments. We urge the community, parents, educators, and local authorities to support this cause for the sake of children who deserve the utmost protection and advocacy in their educational journey. By signing this petition, you are contributing to the protection and safeguarding of our nonverbal autistic children at Sherman Elementary. Please join us in championing this important cause by signing and sharing this petition to bring about change for a safer, more watchful learning environment in our schools. Your support can make a substantial difference.