Tennessee parent complains to school board about bullying of daughter with autism

From The Leaf Chronicle:

Steven Nelson is upset his daughter, who has special needs, is being bullied at school.

He told School Board members during the group's Nov. 3 study session that harassment, bullying and assaults at Northeast Middle School have twice caused his 12-year-old daughter to talk about suicide.

School officials said they understand why Nelson and his wife are upset, and they are working on a plan to help the student, who is autistic and has Asperger's syndrome.

Autism is a neural development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication. Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism that causes significant difficulties in social interaction, and causes patterns of repetitive behavior and interests.

Nelson said his daughter was jabbed with a pencil and fork at school on Sept. 24. He said he and his wife were notified Oct. 1 that she had been punched in the face while at lunch.

The Nelsons are upset they're not being allowed to see surveillance video and because an administrator told him an assault did not happen or it could not be seen on the video.

After repeated requests to view the video, school officials agreed then said it was destroyed by a fire the day before they were to see it.

Schools Communications Director Elise Shelton said Clarksville Fire Rescue was called to the school to investigate a smell of smoke around the library. They discovered the smell was coming from the school resource officer's computer.

"The video was on that hard drive," she said. "We would have been so pleased for him to see what the administrator saw."

Nelson also said he was told by an administrator that because of his daughter's disabilities the school system's policy on harassment did not apply.

Shelton said some students have acted inappropriately toward the girl and have been disciplined.

She said school administrators plan to support the student with a "positive peer group," especially at lunchtime.

The school system's autism specialist has become involved and has identified students in the girl's class who are sympathetic and supportive to be among the peer group.

The assigned seating at lunch has been shifted to accommodate the positive group, which will help the girl with social skills and build self-confidence, Shelton said.

"We are doing this to help prepare her as she goes through school and through life," she said. "It will help her respond to situations and know what to do."

Shelton said the school system has been training teachers and administrators about bullying prevention.

"This is putting that training into application," she said.