My son has been attending our local school for six years, making incredible strides in a dedicated autism program from kindergarten to third grade. We received daily updates, detailed progress reports, and saw measurable advancements, not just in goals but in social skills and behaviors, thanks to the focused attention and resources provided by trained professionals.

But, this year, everything changed without our consent or any clear explanation. The specialized autism program was disbanded and replaced with a cross-categorical program. Since this sudden shift, my son and his classmates have suffered immensely. They are nonverbal, unable to express their daily experiences, leaving us to witness only the aftermath of what must be dramatic, unsettling school days—meltdowns, elevated stress, and regression in learning and development.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for our children. This recent change disregards these rights. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are inadequately followed, leaving our children without the specialized support they need and deserve. Our previous program was staffed with qualified individuals who understood the specific needs and nurtured the potential within our children. Now, they’ve been replaced or pushed away, a result of what we believe to be gross negligence and morally corrupt decisions by the school administration.

The sharp decline in the quality of education our children are receiving is not justifiable. The new program has failed consistently throughout this first trimester, evidenced by our children’s deteriorating behaviors and lack of progress. The restructuring took away qualified staff, leaving a void filled with unpreparedness and inadequacy. This isn’t just a bureaucratic error; it’s a failure to uphold the educational rights and emotional well-being of our kids.

We must stand together to demand transparency and accountability from our school administrators. We urge our decision-makers to listen to the concerns of parents like us, who have first-hand witnessed their children thrive under the right conditions. We need the immediate reinstatement of the dedicated autism program that supports our children's needs through a specialized, stable, and effective educational environment.

Please sign this petition to urge the school board and concerned authorities to restore the dedicated autism program, ensuring our children receive the quality education they are entitled to. Together, we can make sure our children's voices are heard and their futures are protected.