Christian Thorndyke loves going to school but for the last eight months the 12-year-old from Mississauga has had to stay at home with his Mother and get home schooled.
Christian is autistic and because of his outbursts, the school claims they cannot handle him.
Global News first brought you Christian’s story back in September. At the time, Christian’s mother, Karen Thorndyke, had removed him from school due the way he allegedly was being treated by certain school staff.
It is alleged during an outburst, Christian was put in a separate room, known as an alternative learning environment, to help calm him down.
“I was starting to have blow ups in class and the teaching assistant would lock me in a room with a chair in front of it so I would not be able to get out,” Christian told Global News back in September.
“He would also record me on his phone which would escalate me even more and I would eventually pee myself. He yelled at me, gave me mop and told me to clean it up.”
Since our story aired on Global News, things have changed. Karen Thorndyke says she has had several meetings with the Peel District School Board regarding her son’s case.
As of December 8th, he will be going to a new school with the proper support he needs to help him with his outbursts.
“We are going to have an autism specialist working directly with Christian, as well as community supports, Peel Behavioural Services, and supports within the school catered towards Christian’s learning needs,” Karen tells Global News.
“It’s a huge sense of relief – a very happy feeling as a parent knowing your child is going to get rightfully owed to him,” she says.
Although Christian will now be going to a school that can meet his needs, there are concerns about what allegedly happened to him at his previous school.
As a result Karen Thorndyke is launching a lawsuit against the Peel District School Board for the way Christian was allegedly abused at the school. In response to requests by Global News for an interview, Louise Sirisko, Superintendent of Special Education Peel District School Board, sent us this statement:
“As this is a private matter between the Peel District School board and the family involved, we are unable to disclose any information about this case as it is protected under privacy legislation. We have always been and remain focused on ensuring all our students are successful. We are and have always been deeply dedicated to supporting this student and family.”
Since airing Christian’s story in September, Global News received emails from other parents with children with a disability who are frustrated over the lack of services and supports available to them.
Tracey Lamourie’s son Cassidy is autistic.
She came to Global News back in September after her son was suspended from school allegedly because of his condition.
After Global News stepped in to tell her story, Cassidy is now in a better school and is thriving. But hearing that she is not alone is prompting Lamourie to start an organization or support group that will provide parents with support and legal knowledge as to their rights and the rights of their children.
“What we want to do is have a place that parents can come to … Essentially a one stop shop when someone has an issue like we had with our school or like Karen is dealing with her son or when any parent has when they are in conflict. Basically if a child with autism is in conflict with the school board and is not receiving the services mandated to them by law, we want them to come to us so we can get them an autism specialist that will go to the school board meetings with them, give them an attorney who will sit down with them to make sure they understand their human rights,” Lamourie tells Global News.
Lamourie says if she had a place like this she could have gone to in the past, it would have made a world of difference in son’s case.
Meanwhile Christian will be starting at his new school on Dec. 8 on a part-time basis to help him transition into the new school at his own pace.
“I am definitely excited to back to school and meet all new friends and have a great experience,” Christian tells Global News with a big smile on his face.
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