Morris Heights

Approximately seven months ago, our autistic grandson reported that a teacher had squeezed him so hard on his arms and legs and held him down in a way he described as painful. We immediately brought our concerns to school administration. During those discussions, the director acknowledged observing him being held down by the teacher.Prior to this, there had already been multiple documented safety incidents involving our grandson at the school, including being struck in the face with a metal shovel on one occasion which resulted in swelling and a laceration on his face and having rocks thrown at his head also injuring him on another. These incidents were separate events and were reported to us by the school at the time they occurred but brushed off.After we raised concerns regarding student safety and restraint practices, both our grandson and granddaughter were removed from the school. In addition, prepaid tuition funds were not returned.Every child deserves to feel safe and supported at school, especially children with additional support needs. Families can make their own decisions, but we believe parents deserve transparency when evaluating whether this environment is appropriate for their children.We understand that every story has multiple perspectives, but this was our family’s documented experience.