June 17, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Disability Rights, Education
5-year-old Alex Barton testified today in an internal school investigation, the CBS 12 news reports. It’s noted that Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, “is not primarily seeking monetary damages. She wants autism awareness and training for district employees.”
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Jeff lives in New York with his wife Jill and two small sons. He is the author of Alex: The Fathering of a Preemie and Alex the Boy: Episodes From a Family’s Life With Autism, and maintains a sit... more
Jill used to write frequently about food, until having kids made writing frequently impossible. She is the author of "Have a Nice Trip," first published in Brain, Child Magazine, which is her resp... more
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
Did you read the link I posted on one of the Alex posts about the boxes of cards that were sent to him? One had a video from news showing Alex opening the cards.
This makes me feel a bit uneasy that he was asked to “testify”. What Ms. Portillo admited in that police report should be sufficient for disciplinary action up to and including termination. There is a lot going on with this school district. I’m working on something I’ll be posting about in a couple of weeks. I have to sort through a mountain of documents sent to me. The school district has convicted felons working in the special education classes. Children’s arms have been broken recently by restraint in that district. Its a cesspool of abuse. There is so much going on there and the school district doesn’t seem to care.
@CS, I can’t exactly say I’m “looking forward” to reading about all that, but it’s more than necessary.
@Bonnie, saw that link—-seeing Alex opening up the cards seems what one would expect to see a 5 year old do, and gladly—-not testifying.
I’m glad that they allowed the boys voice to be heard. That is really important that they know how he felt.
Hello,
I hope that by testifying, and believe me they had to fight for it, that some how they are collecting evidence enough to finally fire the “teacher”. You all know how I feel about this.
On a lighter note, I have quit my job as VP of Marketing at a local company to full time advocate for Alex and children like him. I am building a website dedicated to the cause. This is a total leap of faith for me as, we are a two income family. I know I will figure it out, I always do. I have this burning passion inside of me to stop this abuse. Abuse happens all too often in our public schools and laws need to change.
Thank you,
Melissa Barton
@Melissa Barton,
Hope Alex and your family, and you, have been all right through so much going on. Please give us informed about your website and advocating work—-it’s more than important, and necessary.
Thank you again—-
I will keep you informed.
Good luck all.