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Child's Medical Needs Ignored on School Van Trip
13 Jun
Summary
- Student with autism and seizures traveled without nurse or medicine.
- School staff found neglect by DCF for the incident.
- Family seeks new placement due to loss of confidence.
A child with autism and seizure disorder in Grafton was reportedly taken on an unauthorized 40-minute van ride without her essential nurse or medication on April 30. The family discovered the incident hours later, expressing outrage over the staff's decision, which was made to save time picking up another student.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has since investigated the incident and found neglect by the school staffers responsible. The family's attorney criticized the school district's response as insufficient, citing a lack of transparency and accountability for the staff members who made the poor judgment call.
The school principal stated the student was never without 1:1 staffing and used a safety harness. The district confirmed corrective actions, including staff refresher guidance. However, the family remains unsatisfied, noting the staff involved still work with their daughter and no apology has been offered. They are now pursuing an out-of-district placement.
