Location: New York, Last year, my nonverbal autistic child came home from their District 75 school acting completely unlike themselves. My child, who is usually hyperactive and struggles to sleep slept for an entire week only waking up to eat before going right back to sleep. When they were awake, they were barely moving.
After that week, everything changed. My child started screaming and fighting me whenever I tried to wash or dress my child. This went on for months. When I took them to their pediatrician, the doctor immediately recognized the shape and location of a bruise and reported the school to ACS.
Instead of Justice, I Got Retaliation
The school refused the safety transfer request I went to the family welcome center and requested the safety transfer papers I did exactly how it was supposed to be done. I gave it to the school instead and all the school did was try to dictate they wanted to choose the school my child should attend. I refused how can I trust them after what happened?
Because I took legal action, the school has weaponized ACS against me, opening case after case. Every single one comes back “unfounded,” but they keep doing it.
While school was out, they opened another case! Before that, they even called the police for a “wellness check” another intimidation tactic.
The System Is Designed to Break Parents
I have an attorney, but every time we get close to a hearing or court date, it gets canceled. Our last scheduled hearing? Canceled and replaced with an ACS inspection. My child still hasn’t been back to school in over a little over a year because I refuse to let them be failed again. I’m fighting with all my might but I would be lying if I said I don’t feel drained, I’m still not and never will give up! I know there’s plenty of grammatical errors I apologize about that in advance.
TL;DR: My nonverbal autistic child was hurt at school, and now the DOE and ACS are harassing me instead of helping. I’m exhausted.