Justice for Aria

Dearest Community,

This week, I disenrolled Aria from a California school for the second time this year, and I am reaching out for help.

I pulled Aria from the first school for grossly neglecting her IEP goals, as well for discrimination after outwardly refusing to provide certain accommodations she needed to learn.

At her most recent school we battled with her education once again, but this time I had serious safety concerns because she was placed in a class with a substitute teacher without Special Education credentials, and teachers' assistants who lacked the empathy and skillset to care for our children.

I called an urgent IEP meeting that was held on Tuesday October 5th, where I confronted the school about issues with education needs that were not being made, multiple school therapies she was due but never received, and because of several injuries she sustained while in their care. I sat in to observe her class on different occasions, and also brought up concerns about one specific teacher’s assistant who exhibited bullying behaviors against the children, who should not be allowed to work with children at all--let alone those with disabilities. During one of my classroom observations, this same TA divulged to me that she had been bringing in Hot Cheetos for the children to eat for snack.

Hot Cheetos!

For kids with multiple disabilities.

For kids who, like Aria, who likely have sensory processing challenges.

For kids, like Aria, who may have disorders directly impacted by their diet.

For kids, like Aria, who may be semi-verbal, or lack the cognitive ability to turn down objects/food that could be dangerous.

What happens when the rub their eyes, while eating Hot Cheetos?

To put things into perspective, several school districts across the country have banned the chips altogether after they sent some children to the emergency room and are thought to trigger addiction-like responses in the brain.

When I picked Aria up from school on the same day that I confronted her principal and IEP team about my class observations, her education, and her safety, Aria had sustained her THIRD set of injuries at school. The injuries ( which were open wounds on both arms) were inconsistent with what the school claims happened, and they are now under investigation by the Sacramento County police department.

When I picked her up from school on the last day I allowed her to attend, she had ANOTHER child’s mask on her face. In the middle of a pandemic…

This incident resulted in a verbal altercation between myself and the same TA who has been bullying the children and feeding them Hot Cheetos, and I am now pressing charges.

I was able to find an incredible attorney, who also has a daughter with special needs, and sits on the board for Autism Speaks. We are pursuing a Civil Rights case against the first school district, and a Due Process case against both districts. After the investigation is complete I will know whether or not we will be able to charge the second school with child abuse.

I created this campaign to assist with raising the funds needed to our an attorney.

Please help me get justice for Aria, and move forward with her case(s). Anything you can contribute to help is truly appreciated.

And please do share with your networks, not just to support the campaign, but to spread awareness on what is taking place in our classrooms. I hope it will inspire other families to go with their gut, and do everything it takes to make sure that their children are in good hands.

Thank you so much for your support,

-Aria and Nadiah