Posted on 01/11/2020 1:43:37 PM PST by Morgana
The mother of a New Jersey student with Down syndrome who was forced to leave the senior prom early has filed suit against the school district, claiming her daughter was the victim of discrimination due to her disability.
The suit was filed by Katherine Trusky in Somerset County Superior Court on Dec. 9 and argues that Hillsborough High School student, identified as L.D., was “humiliated, singled out, and forced to leave the Senior Prom early while other, “neurotypical,” students were allowed to continue.”
The lawsuit goes on to say that the memorable night that L.D. and her friends were meant to cherish, “turned into a nightmare that will haunt Plaintiffs for the rest of their lives.”
According to the lawsuit, when L.D. picked up her tickets for the May 17 Senior Prom the tickets stated that “All attendees are required to stay until 11:00 p.m.” and that “limos may arrive no earlier than 11:15 p.m.”
Additionally, according to the suit, a school social worker sent out an email to parents of students with special needs let them known that although the prom was scheduled to end at 11:30 p.m., limos would be permitted to start picking up students at 11:15 p.m.
The student and her friends, some who had special needs and others who were “neurotypical,” made plans to attend, and parents arranged for a limousine.
Three special-education aides – Pamela Figard, Kathy Reddan and Toni Marchak – were assigned to help L.D. and her friends at the prom. However, Figard, the lawsuit charges, told the limousine driver to pick them up at 10:45 p.m., despite his protests that he wasn't supposed to arrive until 11:15 p.m.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnewyork.com ...
Any parent here with a downs child care to comment on this?
Other wise this story makes no sense why could the disabled children not stay and see the king and queen of the prom?
homeschool ping
This is not...kind of like service animals gone wild. the school was trying to make it safe and easy for special needs students to exit at a very busy time. if they had done otherwise and one got lost then it would be hell today. LD mom get over it.
Do homeschoolers get to participate in regular ole fashioned things like proms which in my OP is a part of blending into society and learning how to assimilate ?
In one sense I can see that but still I understand from the child’s point of view. Every kid wants to see the King and Queen up there. It’s not fair to let them miss that! These kids had aids to help them out. Besides this is a Prom not a Pantera concert! Like there is going to be a rush for the door.
Some do actually. Their own.
There is also a “special needs Prom” that a lot of churches host yearly.
In short, yeah, it was unjustified discrimination.
Down Syndrome kids aren’t exactly vegetables. They’re perfectly capable of moving in a crowd.
These schools used to be called “common schools.” They were not for people outside two standard deviations from the mean.
ML/NJ
I suspect you are correct and that was very inconsiderate of those chaperones.
Oh, come on.
Wrong. Poeple with downes syndrome are not vegetables. They are people who God gave us.
Very happy and caring for themselves and others.
I am very glad we have them
Downs is not a disability.
I have a son with autism and he participates in a special needs bowling league. Several of the children there are downs syndrome. My son has also attended a couple of Proms that specifically are for special needs children. I have never seen any of the downs syndrome children exhibit any type of disruptive behavior. That is what I have personally observed.
I believe the chaperones just wanted to leave early and were extremely inconsiderate of the children.
Perhaps the early leave time was for any assistance she and her friend might need. Wouldn’t want her getting into the wrong limo or someone bothering her outside. That said, it seems the aides should be the ones on the carpet for not accompanying the kids out.
Oooh, la tee da! Limos! If mom can afford a limo, she can afford a lawyer.
Airlines ask that the disabled board first and they don’t always have attendants escorting them.
I read your comment to my homeschooled daughter. She just laughed and said, “What does he think we do, sit in the basement all day?”
There may be people groups in the USA who have difficulties “blending into society and learning to assimilate”, but homeschoolers are not one of those groups.
Our kids, like almost every homeschooled kid we know, are involved in sports, dance, community theater, music, etc. They interact well with both adults and peers. They get invited to various parties and events by friends who are both homeschooled and public schooled.
Yes, there are awkward and shy homeschoolers. But there are also awkward and shy kids in public schools. Some of the most socially inept people I’ve known went to public school.
Sure, there was a rush to the door. Teen hormones. Whomever gets to the hotel first, gets down and dirty first.
There were handicapped friends in this student’s group. One was a blind child. Don’t know about the others.
It helps to read the whole article.
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