Austin, TX – Parents and law enforcement officials went to the state Capitol on Thursday in support of a bill that would require schools to install cameras in special education classes and isolation rooms.
Stakeholders, including several parents of children on the autism spectrum, aimed to support the enactment of measures that would ensure that children who are considered the most vulnerable are protected from abuse.
Because students with ASD and other special needs often have difficulty with verbal communication and are not always able to recognize when they are being treated in an inappropriate manner, advocates believe that such surveillance methods are imperative in state schools.
Bregett Rideau, the mother of a young son with exceptional needs, testified in support of the proposed bill citing an incident that had occurred at the youngster’s school which ultimately spurred what is considered to be the largest verdict in the history of the United States.
Other parents such as Lillian Snowden, the mother of a 9 year old son who had been placed in isolation, are equally adamant about the need for cameras arguing that they supply answers to questions that many children, including her son, cannot provide. The bill has been approved by the Senate and is currently in the House committee for review.
Source: on the kXAN.com websiteParents and kids testify for cameras in special education classrooms