Let's work together to keep our kids safe.
ASF has formed a Safe Schools Task Force due to the enormous concerns we have for our children who attend public schools in Florida.
Day after day there are reports of children with autism being treated with disrespect, exposed to profanity, dragged from classrooms, baker acted, restrained and segregated.
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Bullying is another big problem for our kids.
In fact, 63% of kids with autism REPORT
being bullied in school, and that is only those who can communicate about what is happening to them.
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We have contacted the Florida Department of Education, Chancellor of Education, district ESE directors, Office of Safe Schools, and we ask you to do the same.
Below are some contact emails. If you are as concerned as we are about this issue, please reach out to them and share your story.
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Thank you for standing up for children with autism.
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Jessica Brattain, Bureau Chief
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Richard Strickland, State Lead: Autism Spectrum Disorder
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YOUR ADVOCACY IS NEEDED!
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It's never been more clear that we NEED Cameras in Classrooms of children with disabilities. We have cameras everywhere - in our grocery stores, gyms, gas stations, banks and even elevators - but why not our children’s classrooms??
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To help share our stories with legislators, the Safe Schools Task Force is collecting 30 second videos from parents of children in the public school system who have a message to share about an experience that could have been prevented if there was a camera in their child's classroom. We hope that you will help us by taking a 30 second video of your story and emailing it to us at info@autismfl.org
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If the file is too large for email, you can also send video files for free through wetransfer.com
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These videos will be shared with legislators as we seek the passing of a law that would require cameras in classrooms.
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You can remain anonymous if you'd like, or you can email us to let us know who you are and that you've uploaded a file.
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Thank you so much for helping us help kids with disabilities across that state of Florida.
“The U.S. Department of Justice and Pasco County Schools have reached an agreement over discrimination allegations against students with disabilities.”
Basically, the school district was found to be discriminatory against students with disabilities during the investigation. Police were often called to remove students and students with disabilities were wrapped up in threat assessment processes. This may have been in Pasco County, but we know that it is much far-reaching than one county and something that the Asf will be working on this year. We hope that you will join us
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
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It's important to contact you legislators and let them know where you stand on the issues.
They need to hear personal stories to inform and influence them. If no one calls them, then it's as if they're not needed and all is well with special education.