A Cry for Help Children with disabilities are not just numbers on a report — they are our sons, our daughters, our grandchildren. They are our family. Yet they suffer abuse, restraint, neglect, and injury at rates 2 to 10 times higher than other children. For families like ours, this is not a statistic — it is our everyday fear. Our son is nonverbal. He cannot tell us when something happens to him. Three times, he has come home from school injured. The worst incident was when we discovered adult-sized hand scratches across his chest, hidden under his shirt. He was wearing a shirt — so how did they get underneath it? The school had no answers. Even more disturbing, the principal did not seem remorseful at all. He seemed more interested in protecting the school and his own image rather than protecting our nonverbal son — who was only 4 years old at the time of the incident. That is not something we as parents can accept. Their response felt dismissive — but for us, it was terrifying. Our son had no answers, no proof, no voice — and we had no way to protect him. And it’s not just him. Our little cousin eloped from school unnoticed. A child with special needs walked right out of the very safety net that was supposed to protect him. It was the police who found him. That should never happen. Sadly, this is not just our family’s story. This is the story of countless children across California and statewide — children with autism and other special needs who are being left vulnerable, voiceless, and unprotected. We live every day knowing that if something goes wrong, our children may not be able to cry out for help — and we may never know the truth. Our children deserve to be seen. They deserve to be safe. They deserve protection when they cannot speak for themselves. These kids aren’t asking for special treatment — they’re fighting for a chance to be safe. Cameras in special needs classrooms are not a form of surveillance; they are a tool for accountability, transparency, and protection. These cameras are not public access. Footage is only reviewed by authorized individuals - such as parents or guardians - when a legitimate concern is raised. This safeguard maintains privacy while ensuring that the truth can be seen when it matters most. This initiative is about building trust between parents, educators, and schools, and ensuring that vulnerable children are protected, respected, and heard.   Why We Can’t Wait: Children with developmental disabilities face abuse 4–10 times more often than their peers.
Disabled children are three times more likely to be victims of sexual abuse, especially those with intellectual or mental health-related disabilities.
In schools, the reality is even harsher: 80% of students restrained or secluded were in special education.
In just one recent year in Connecticut, 4,000 special education students were restrained or secluded more than 46,000 times, with 417 injuries — 18 so severe they required medical attention. 
California families deserve better than waiting for another tragedy. Cameras don’t just watch — they speak when our children cannot. They are a shield of protection, a safeguard of truth, and a source of peace of mind for parents, grandparents, and teachers alike. This is not about surveillance. This is about protection. This is about accountability. This is about giving every vulnerable child a voice. Our Call to Action We, the undersigned parents, grandparents, educators, and advocates, demand action: Pass the -The Silent No More Act: RJ & JoJo’s Law for Special Needs Safety — a simple, parent-driven, request-based law that will bring safety, transparency, and fairness into California’s special education classrooms. Every child deserves to be seen. Every family deserves peace of mind. And every parent and grandparent deserves to know their child is safe. Our children, especially those with disabilities, cannot always speak for themselves. That means we must be their voice. Yet too often, families are forced to fight to be heard and often brushed aside when what is at stake is nothing less than child safety. No parent should be forced to fight for what should already be guaranteed: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every child. We call on schools, lawmakers, and agencies to stop treating safety as optional. To stop making parents beg. To recognize that safety and transparency aren’t extras — they are lifelines. Every child deserves to be safe, supported, and seen. Every family deserves answers without delay or denial. Every system has a duty to listen, protect, and act. It’s time to turn our voices into change. 
Our children cannot wait another day. California must act now.  “Because every child deserves to be seen.” #PuzzleCamKidsMovement #ProtectNonverbalKids
#CamerasForSpecialNeeds
#SeeTheirVoice
#SafetyForAllKids
#AutismSafetyMatters
#InvisibleNoMore
#ForEveryChild
#VoicesUnheard
#StandWithPuzzleCamKids
#ParentsForProtection
#SafetyIsARight