My son is in a self-contained autism spectrum disorder classroom.  Yesterday was supposed to be a celebration of the completion of another school year.  However, it was anything but.  A parent in my son's classroom witnessed her son being mistreated by a teacher's assistant.  Not only did she witness it, but other parents did as well.   As the mother of a nonverbal child, this disturbing and frightening to me.  My worst nightmare. What is happening to our children when we are not present?

Earlier this year I reached out to the school, district, school board and Department of Education regarding what training was conducted for those who are in the classroom with our children. I had grown concerned as my son was displaying behaviors we have never seen and he is non-verbal so behavior is his way of communicating.   What happened yesterday alarms me and it appears to be a national issue. Berkeley, West Virginia, Okalalossa County, Broward County, Marathon, Florida, classroom everywhere. It is happening right here in a Orange County.

Are our children safe?

How can I send my non-verbal child to school and know that he is not being mistreated or abused? Who is the children's CHAMPION? Who is protecting the children? Are we making the stance of being REACTIVE instead of PROACTIVE? And at the cost of what?  Our Children? Or does willful blindness trump children safety?  

 Orange County Public Schools and Department of Children and Families, the community of children with disabilities and their parents need an answer now.

Mandatory Behavioral Instructional Support Training & Classroom Cameras