BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) The mother of an autistic child at the center of an abuse investigation at a Massachusetts school spoke to FOX 25 on Tuesday night about new details in the case.
Michelle Whitlow's son, Deshaun, is autistic and has a hard time expressing himself. Last spring, she suspected something was wrong at school, but Deshaun wasn't able to communicate. It was a phone call from a state social worker that first alerted her to a problem. After many months, Whitlow says she now knows exactly what happened.
A DCF investigation found evidence to support claims that a teacher at the Russell School in Boston abused five special needs children last school year.
The 17-page report released by the DCF accuses the teacher of laying on Deshaun with her body weight to restrain him at nap time. The report also claims that another teacher witnessed the teacher in question throw Deshaun into a chair.
Michelle says her son has asthma and the teacher's alleged actions could have killed him.
The teacher is also accused of dragging another child down two fligths of stairs by the ankles.
Whitlow's attorney says the case should have been referred for criminal prosecution, but never was.
An official in the Boston Public School System tells FOX 25 that the teacher was removed from the classroom, but remains on paid leave.
