“Jimmy started shutting down whenever he used to come home from school,” remembers Ms. Solis. “I started getting worried – I asked the principal: ‘Can I come in and see his behavior?’ And they wouldn’t let me."
"One time Jimmy came home, and he had a ruler mark [on his arm]. He said that his teacher hit him.”
Ms. Solis struggled for years to get Jimmy’s school to evaluate him for an undiagnosed disability – even though he was experiencing behavioral issues and falling behind in class. A determined advocate for her son, Ms. Solis paid out-of-pocket for an evaluation when the school refused to provide one. She learned that Jimmy is autistic and needs special supports to learn and thrive.
Finding out Jimmy's teacher had struck him was the final straw. Ms. Solis read the school’s parent manual from cover to cover. That's how she learned about Children's Law Center. She asked us to help her fight for Jimmy's right to special education services.
With your support, we can fight for more children like Jimmy to receive a quality education. All gifts of $250 or more will be matched dollar for dollar, and Kite Club gifts of $1,500 or more will be matched 2 to 1!
We immediately got to work. We helped Jimmy transfer to a supportive school for students with disabilities in 2011 and ensured he received the right services to meet his academic and development goals.
