On November 10, 2022, my 5-year old (then 4-year old) daughter Autymn-Rose Harrison was in the bathroom of her Prince of Wales Elementary School classroom at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), when she was caught up in a bullying incident with two other students. After one of the students slammed the door on my daughter, her hand was left crushed. 

My daughter was left unattended and unaccounted for by school staff. She was forgotten and neglected, and this ultimately resulted in the partial amputation of her finger. 

After losing part of her finger, HWDSB staff further failed to notify me (her sole guardian) of where Autymn-Rose was. 

Let me repeat: HWDSB staff placed a 4-year old child in mental distress, with excessive bleeding, a partially amputated limb and a possible head injury in an ambulance, without supervision from a trusted adult.

My daughter now lives with a permanent disability because of the HWDSB's actions, or better yet, their inactions. My family has left Hamilton because of the trauma we have experienced. To this day, my daughters haven’t been able to properly reintegrate into school. Nothing about this is normal, nor is it acceptable. 

As of March 2023, I filed a lawsuit against the HWDSB for failing to act in a reasonable manner, as well as for issues of negligence regarding bullying, failing to uphold student safety and more. 

On Tuesday March 28, 2023, community members and media across Hamilton attended a press conference, where my daughter’s situation and subsequent demands were discussed in detail. 

We stood at the forecourt of the HWDSB, demanding answers and demanding action – but not one of their senior members or trustees showed up. Not one of them thought a Black family from Prince of Wales – a historically neglected, inner-city school – was worth their time, respect or care. 

My story has taken the media, news and internet by a storm. The community is outraged, and rightfully so. Thousands of people across this city, province and country have condemned the negligence and violence of the HWDSB, but they have yet to respond to our demands.

Because my young, Black disabled daughter has been deemed disposable by the HWDSB, we have been met with no compensation, compassion or care. I know how easy it is for this school board to move on and dodge accountability, but my family deserves better than this. All minority children deserve better than this, and I will not stop fighting until our demands are met. 

We are beyond grateful for the love and solidarity we have received from community members. Your support has been overwhelming, and it means everything to us. We are eternally thankful for everything you have done to hold us through this. 

Please consider signing this petition, so that we can continue to demand better from the HWDSB, for all students and families. We cannot do this alone. 

This is about the future, the dignity and the safety of all Black, disabled and minority children. Enough is enough. We need change and we need justice, and we need it now.

Here are my demands for the HWDSB:

1. Immediate mental health support and compensation for harm experienced by my family.
2. Immediate provision of all relevant documentation, including incident reports, concussion reports, meeting notes and other relevant items.
3. The termination of staff, executive members and trustees who failed to uphold student safety and accountability regarding the incident in question.
4. The development and implementation of a protocol for students experiencing a medical crisis, whereas: (a) students are to designate (primary and alternate) trusted/safe persons to accompany them if they are to require an ambulance, as identified by themselves and/or their guardians, (b) school administration are identified to accompany students if neither the primary or alternate trusted/safe persons are available and (c) special considerations are in place for young children and students with disabilities
5. A requirement that all incident reports: (a) be provided to the parent/guardian within 24 hours of the incident, (b) cease to be distributed amongst staff prior to being reviewed by a parent/guardian within the required timeline and (c) be authorized with a signature from the parent/guardian
6. A review of the current concussion protocol, and whether it is being effectively operationalized by staff.
7. A policy requiring the development of a reintegration plan following instances of trauma that occur at school. This must include: (a) culturally competent, Black focused mental health supports and (b) impact statements from families
8. The involvement of a third-party in all school-related accidents/incidents, which must include: (a) culturally competent supports and (b) Black-specific supports
9. The investigation into instances of criminal negligence by staff, including: (a) processes of accountability and (b) training to ensure staff are properly equipped to supervise children

With endless love and solidarity, 

Sjanita Marie Harrison