A disabled student's feet duct taped in school? A report posted today at ABC says the girls parents were stunned to discover their little girls feet had been duct taped in class.
The ABC report says the parents of the Indiana girl want answers from their daughter’s former elementary school on why the 8-year-old came home from her special-needs program with her shoes duct-taped to her feet and ankles.
Nate and Elizabeth Searcy say their daughter, Shaylyn, who has Down syndrome, was attending Life Skills Program at Westlake Elementary in Indianapolis, but the couple has re-enrolled Shaylyn at the school she attended last year after seeing what happened to their child at school on Tuesday.
“Shaylyn got home and the assistant on the bus said, ‘Where’s mama?’ I looked down at my daughter, and she said, ‘My feet hurt,’” says Nate Searcy. “I noticed she had duct tape around her shoes, over and under the tops of her shoes, and up and around her ankles to keep them on.”
Elizabeth Searcy says she was told by Westlake's assistant principal that Shaylyn had to be wheeled to the bus because she was unable to walk. Upon arriving home her father carried her from the bus to the house.
“They put her in a type of safety restraint chair, and pushed her out of the school to the bus,” says Elizabeth.
The Searcy's took photos of Shaylyn's feet, then headed to the school for answers. Once there, the assistant principal acknowledged the that duct taping the Shaylyn's shoes to her feet was "inappropriate," but no one apologized for the incident.
Nate and Elizabeth still do not know who duct taped Shaylyn's feet. In fact, the couple claims they have not heard from the school at all since Tuesday.
“I’d like to see people’s education backgrounds checked. I’m stunned,” says Nate Searcy, “Obviously, whoever did this doesn’t need to be a part of the program there.”
“This is unacceptable for any child to go through,” says Elizabeth Searcy.
What do you think about a student's feet duct taped to her shoes? Do you think Westlake is attempting to cover up the incident since they have not contacted the Searcy's since Tuesday?
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