Family claims deaf-blind student was abused, sues Wayne Township schools
By Ashley Fowler
Click here for updates on this story
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis family is suing the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township over allegations of neglect and abuse involving a 16-year-old deaf-blind student.
The lawsuit, filed in Marion County Superior Court, claims that the student suffered years of appalling neglect, physical and emotional abuse, and deliberate indifference to his safety and dignity.
“This child was left naked, filmed, and degraded by those entrusted with his care,” attorney Tammy Meyer of Metzger Rosta LLP said in a release.
Attorney Catherine Michael of Connell Michael LLP described the treatment as “nothing short of barbaric.”
The complaint details conduct at Ben Davis High School and Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center where, according to the lawsuit, staff left the student unattended, deprived him of food, ignored his medical needs, and filmed him “completely nude and in distress, with other employees watching and recording as the child cried.”
Court papers say the school district “not only failed to provide the one-on-one trained aide the student required under his Individualized Education Plan, but knowingly allowed unqualified and untrained staff to handle his care, resulting in catastrophic harm.”
The lawsuit accuses Wayne Township schools of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and multiple provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the Fourteenth Amendment right to due process and equal protection
The family is seeking damages for the extensive physical, emotional, and psychological trauma suffered by the student and his mother.
“This district has spent years ignoring its legal and moral duty to protect and educate children with disabilities,” Michael added. “The public deserves to know what happened behind those doors and the people responsible must face consequences.”
MSD of Wayne Township provided News 8 with the following statement:
We’re aware of the lawsuit and take all allegations involving student safety and welfare with the utmost seriousness.
Due to federal privacy laws, including FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), we are significantly limited in what information we can share publicly about any student without proper authorization.
We want to be transparent with the public about this matter. If the family is willing to execute a full release of information that allows the district to discuss the circumstances surrounding these allegations, we would welcome the opportunity to provide our account and the relevant facts of this case.
We remain committed to the safety, dignity, and education of all students in our care.
MSD of Wayne Township
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.