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Guest column: Autistic children need protection with cameras in the classroom

Florida Times-Union - 10/28/2019

The Parkland shooting has created a palpable fear in every school in Florida and created a byproduct against children with autism.

Like never before, children on the autism spectrum are being Baker Acted at alarming rates, without a requirement of our schools to even track the numbers.

News stories constantly appear of children who are locked in closets and bathrooms, restrained by people who are five times their size, put in handcuffs, spoken to in such a way that would cause typically developing children to immediately report this type of treatment to their parents.

Florida has struggled with guaranteeing the safety of its students. From the Panhandle to South Florida, evidence has surfaced as to just how vulnerable these children truly are.

In 2018, 8,650 children were restrained in Florida schools, and these are only incidents that have been reported. Many children with autism are not able to communicate effectively, and some are not able to communicate at all except through the behaviors they exhibit.

For those who spend their school day in separate classrooms with other students who cannot communicate, parents are forced to believe that their children are safe, protected against harm and provided an appropriate education.

There are cameras everywhere we go! We may not see them, but they are present on toll roads to capture violators, on street poles to stop those who would run a red light, in stores to catch thieves and often in front offices and hallways of our schools to monitor the behaviors of people who enter.

Police officers are beginning to use them to protect our community and themselves. Citizens use them to protect our homes and vehicles. So why are they not being used to protect our children?

The Autism Society of Florida is joining with other autism leaders and organizations from across the state to seek legislation that would require cameras in classrooms designated as "ESE classrooms" -- separate classrooms for children with disabilities.

These cameras would not only offer protection of our children, but for teachers as well.

We cannot allow the mistreatment of these defenseless children to continue.

Texas, Georgia and West Virginia have already passed legislation for cameras in classrooms. It's time for Florida to do the right thing and protect those who need us most.

Stacey Hoaglund is president of the Autism Society of Florida based in Orlando.

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