Polk County schools failed to adequately educate an autistic student and now must pay up to $720,000 to give 22-year-old Andrew "Drew" Sammons a proper education, an administrative law judge has ruled.Click here for the complete article from The Ledger
Bill and Janie Sammons have fought the School District for four years, contending their son was allowed to graduate without receiving the academic instruction or training in developmental skills that the law requires disabled students be provided.
In a 20-page ruling, Judge William F. Quattlebaum in Tallahassee sided with the Lakeland family, saying Polk's failure to provide a proper education for Drew Sammons was not the "accidental result of inadequate educational planning."
"It is clear (the district) was either unable or unwilling to provide the appropriate services to which (Sammons) was entitled," Quattlebaum wrote.
"This case established that Polk County didn't have means to teach autistic kids," said the Sammons' lawyer, Timothy Weber, of St. Petersburg...
All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is Atlanta's preeminent resource on developmental disabilities, providing support services to families for more than 55 years. We are often the one place where people with developmental disabilities can go to achieve personal empowerment, family stability and community participation. AADD provides family support; public policy and advocacy; and community engagement.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Polk Schools Must Pay Family $720,000
Administrative judge says district failed to adequately educate autistic student.
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