Several employees at Alfred T. Bonnabel High School have allegedly been caught on camera abusing a severely disabled special education student.
A federal civil rights suit filed by the boy’s parents was based on footage from in-classroom cameras and alleges that several employees took part in the abuse, which included kicking him, tying him down, and subjecting him to prolonged humiliation in front of other students.
Ashley McReynolds is Project Director of The Arc of Louisiana and believes the protections in-classroom cameras can provide are vital for the most vulnerable children in the state’s schools.
“Even though there was a law in place around cameras, when parents were making requests to review those cameras, some school districts were denying them. We worked with Representative Shane Mack on a piece of legislation that would make the cameras mandatory in all special education classrooms that meet the legal definition instead of upon parental request,” McReynolds explained.
She also pointed out that restraint and seclusion policies that were long seen as harmful are also addressed within the new legislation.
The September lawsuit that sparked the legislation allege that a male student who suffers from deafness, cerebral palsy, autism, a seizure disorder, and requires the use of diapers and a wheelchair was the subject of repeated abuse from multiple employees.
Disability advocates such as McReynolds are hopeful that an added layer of transparency can not only help to protect the most vulnerable students, but also help enlighten and train future caregivers.
“It’s more than just accountability. If used properly, (the footage) can be used for training, and professional development. It’s not just a protection for the students, but a protection for school personnel,” McReynolds notes.