TORONTO – A 12-year-old autistic boy and his mother have taken legal action against the Peel District School board for what they allege has been years of abuse.
Karen Thorndyke and her son Christian filed the $16 million lawsuit against the school board, five area schools and thirty staff members on Monday.
“I think there are other children with special needs autism or otherwise who have been subjected to certain forms of violence and abuse,” said Thorndyke’s lawyer Rhyan Ahmed. “This is probably the first time someone is doing something about it.”
The statement of claim outline pages of alleged abuse the Thorndyke family claims took place while Christian was a student within the Peel District School Board. It’s alleged staff used physical and sometimes painful means to control Christian’s outbursts. The statement of claim asks for $10 million dollars in punitive damages.
“At one school I was scared to even go to the school the next day. It caused me really sad emotional problems,” said Christian while sitting in his lawyer’s office.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Global News first reported on Christian’s story in September. He has since moved to another school in Peel region where he says he is now happy to go to class and make new friends. His mother says it’s been a long journey for the student and his family.
“It’s very emotional it’s hard. It’s hard because he’s such a fighter,” said Karen Thorndyke wiping away tears. “To see how strong he’s become is amazing.”
The family says they want accountability from the school board, not only for their experiences but for other families of special needs kids who are going through the same thing. One of those families is Tracy Lamourie and her autistic son Cassidy. Cassidy claims he too experienced hardships in the classroom within the Toronto school board.
“It was like reading a gothic horror story when i read the court files,” said Lamourie. “But the truth is that families who have special needs children have a lot of the same components of some of what happened to Christian.”
Lamourie is now joining forces with Thorndyke to start a special organization for parents of special needs kids who might feel helpless or intimidated to speak up.
“This is truly an organization thats much needed all families think theyre alone in this fight ,” said Lamourie.
Louise Sirisko, the superintendent of Special Education Support Services with the Peel District School Board, said in a statement Tuesday that officials wouldn’t be able to comment as it is a private matter.
“We remain deeply committed to supporting this child and his family, and believe this goal is not well-served by talking about this very personal matter in the media.”
The board has twenty days to respond to the statement of claim.
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