Help fix Braydyn's future

     
Hello, our names are Timothy and Dora, we are Braydyn's parents. Please allow us to share our story and how our son has tragically suffered, both physically and mentally due to our failing educational system. Braydyn has Autism (ASD) combined with Anxiety, and due to severe negligence on behalf of his local school district here in South Carolina, suffers with traumatic PTSD. In addition to these, Braydyn has delays in reading, speech, math, and development all directly related to this negligence.

       Believe me when I tell you that it has been tough; truly a nightmare!! A nightmare that is relived over and over every day; one in which we are currently unable to wake. Living through and dealing with what Braydyn has suffered, gone through, and experienced; at the hands of those that are supposed to be trusted, is an ongoing torture we pray no family endures.

       My wife and I have been at this for 6 years now and feel hopeless at what lies ahead. A great deal of damage was done to Braydyn during his 1 st year in kindergarten. His school said they did not have a class available to support our son with Autism, so they placed him in a regular, mainstreamed class with a teacher that had absolutely no idea how to teach a child with ASD, as well as NO Special Education supports needed for a child diagnosed with ASD. It was during this critical developmental stage that our innocent son suffered the negligence that resulted in him developing severe PTSD, and thus a 5-year-old refusing to go to school for fear of further emotional and physical harm.

     I cannot go into greater detail as it remains an ongoing investigation, but it has left our son with crippling PTSD. Following the above traumatic events, Braydyn has been moved to 4 additional elementary schools within the same district.      He is still at a kindergarten level with the school showing minimal or no progress regarding his educational gains/status. Per Federal Law, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) requires that a school “must show progress” to continue to receive Federal Funds for any student with special needs. The school has yet to show any significant gains to justify progress and thus are failing to meet the above guidelines per Federal Law.

     We have a plan to help Braydyn, but we cannot do this alone. Our goal is to hire a highly qualified and experienced special education attorney to help us fight for what is, not only right, but what is needed for Braydyn to succeed within our local school district.
     Braydyn is now 10 years old and remains at a kindergarten level. His school is unwilling to transition him back into the school building because they are unable to provide a transition plan and the support needed to assist him in doing so; therefore, the school has provided and he receives 1 hour a day homebound instruction. This is not only a travesty, but unfair, and highly illegal.  Having said that, as a family supporting a special needs child, the money needed to hire an attorney is limited. He can absolutely participate in a longer school day, and if accommodations were provided, begin transitioning back into the brick-and-mortar building; but the school district is unwilling to meet the needs of our son. 

     Braydyn is NOT getting his educational needs met, nor the ones he entitled to and backed by Federal Law. We have tried over and over to fight for him within the boundaries set by our local school district, but to no avail. Braydyn is a SMART, High-Functioning child with Autism, and if provided the right teachers, programs, supports, and accommodations Braydyn cannot only turn the corner but make up the ground that has been lost; he can and should be given the opportunity to a future filled with endless possibilities. Isn’t that what we, as parents, want for all our children?

     When I share Braydyn’s story, people are moved, even angry that such things still happen, yet, no one has been able to act on it. Attempting to affect change,   I ran for a seat on our local school board hoping to provide a perspective on behalf of families with special needs children.   I did not attempt this just for Braydyn but for all children, typical and special needs, within a school system that is failing all our children; sadly, it was a race I did not win.

       We are asking for your help; we cannot afford to hire and retain an attorney alone, as our battle has been long and hard, and finances have been drained. Hiring a highly specialized attorney, one that will help us fight to get what Braydyn needs, is our last hope.            You are our last hope.          After being encouraged by a friend/case manager to start a GoFundMe, we now turn our hopes over to those willing to help and make a difference for Braydyn. Will you help us by supporting a cause that benefits a child that would otherwise be forgotten by the establishment and left to fall through the cracks within our failing education system? 

     Our goal is to raise the amount needed to hire a highly specialized attorney to battle for Braydyn’s educational rights. A retainer fee of $8500 is required just to start the process, but much more will be needed to cover additional costs as our case progresses. Please help us in any way that you can and give the gift of future possibilities to Braydyn.

     Please help to undo the damage that has been done and give hope; hope for
Braydyn.