Two separate negligence lawsuits filed earlier this week allege the abuse of autistic children, CBS News reports. Both involve staff at two Chicago public schools.
Since autistic people have difficulty communicating and sometimes are misunderstood by teachers and other adults, they're often easy targets for abuse (The Florida Times-Union), sadly.
In one suit, 13-year-old Davonte Shaffer claims a teacher's aide at Johnson James Weldon Elementary School threw a stapler at him. He also claims that he was often verbally berated by the aide and other students.
Shaffer's suit alleges negligence, willful and wanton conduct and intentional tort and seeks more than $50,000 (plus legal costs) in damages.
The other legal action was filed by the mother of a six-year-old autistic and epilectic boy whom she claims was inappropriately touched and kissed by a teacher. Identified only as "John Doe," the boy was in special education classes at Chicago's Ogden International School.
According to the complaint, the mother witnessed a teacher and her son emerging from a concealed stairwell without explanation. She also allegedly allowed "John" to engage in intimate "French kissing" while sitting on her lap.
This is a six-year-old boy we're talking about.
But the school's principal only told the mother that the teacher had "crossed the line," according to the complaint, while no actual disciplinary action was taken. However, this was not the first time that teacher had been accused of similar transgressions with students.
Doe's mother is suing for willful and wanton conduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Like the other suit, she also seeks more than $50,000 and legal fees.
Criminal charges have not been filed against either teacher.
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What is Autism? (Autism Speaks)
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TAP Training Center at the University of Illinois Chicago (The Autism Program of Illinois)
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Autism in the Classroom (WebMD)
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Chicago Injury Attorneys (FindLaw)
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