My name is Ashley, and I am the mother and sole caregiver of Carter, a little boy in Montgomery County who is autistic, nonverbal, and cannot tell me when something is wrong.

Carter cannot speak for himself, so I have to speak for him.

I know firsthand the fear and helplessness that arises when our most vulnerable children are left in the care of others without any means of communication to report abuse or neglect.

When Carter was just 18 months old, he suffered a broken collarbone due to the neglect of a daycare facility. Not long after this tragic incident, he was diagnosed with autism. Suddenly, I found myself a single mother, desperately trying to navigate a system that was not designed to protect children like him- children who cannot speak, cannot report abuse, and often cannot advocate for their own safety.

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of children with developmental disabilities and autism who attend special education classrooms every day. These classrooms are meant to be safe, supportive environments, yet parents have no way to ensure transparency or protection when they cannot be present. For nonverbal children, a camera is the only voice they have.

This is not just my story. Across Pennsylvania, families are reporting mistreatment, neglect, and preventable harm in special-needs settings. From the recent termination of the Central Bucks superintendent and principal over student abuse claims to multiple statewide investigations, it is clear that our system lacks the transparency needed to keep vulnerable children safe.

 
Carter’s Law would require:
✔ Video cameras in all DD, autism, and nonverbal classrooms
✔ Secure storage of footage
✔ Immediate access for parents, especially when a child comes home distressed or injured
✔ Protection for both children and staff
✔ A Montgomery County pilot, followed by expansion across Pennsylvania

 Other states that have implemented similar measures have seen decreased incidents of abuse, improved staff accountability, and greater trust between families and schools. Cameras protect children, educators, and the truth.

Good teachers and aides WANT cameras because they create a safer, more transparent learning environment for everyone.

 
Children who cannot speak deserve adults who will fight for them.
If they cannot tell us what happened, then we must be able to see it.

I am calling on Montgomery County officials, the Pennsylvania Legislature, and Governor Josh Shapiro to pass Carter’s Law and finally provide transparency and safety for our most vulnerable children.

Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can protect children in Montgomery County and, eventually, across all of Pennsylvania.

After signing, please share this petition so we can protect as many children as possible.