12/21/2019
Parents, friends and families: this is a very important issue. Please read and if you feel moved, please assist. Happy Holidays everyone 🙂
“Please help save me. Advocacy is needed now. I’m dying inside. No disability rights because i don’t speak. That’s wrong.” - Peyton Sparks
Our spellers need rights and this is a perfect example of how badly it’s needed.
(Skip down time paragraphed 5 if you are short on time).
“Peyton's Story
Peyton is a 17 year old nonspeaking autistic teen with a fabulous personality and a heart of gold. She is highly motivated to succeed and loves an academic challenge.
For over 10 years her education consisted of Life Skills Classes and ABA (Behavioral Training). She was misunderstood and gravely underestimated. Diagnosed with autism and related Dyspraxia (a neurological disorder that affects the brain-body connection), Peyton struggled to speak and to use her body in intentional ways. All of this affected how she was understood in the world. Outside of school she began learning to communicate on a letter board with a communication partner and life started to improve. Unfortunately, her public school restricted her from using her chosen mode of communication and refused to provide her with a trained paraprofessional to support her regulation and communication needs.
In the fall of 2018, after her parents’ divorce, Peyton’s mother enrolled her in a virtual public school that believed in her abilities and accepted her mode of communication. Peyton requested to take challenging general education classes to work toward her high school diploma. The school agreed and she began earning credits that first semester. Peyton is now nearing the completion of her third successful semester with more credits and great grades! Peyton has risen to every challenge and she has continued to improve her communication and regulation skills.
Like most high school students, Peyton has experienced highs and lows. She has been committed to using her communication to honestly express herself to her teachers, therapists, peers, support staff, her doctors, and family. Peyton can be brutally honest, but she is also highly aware of what people can handle. Since gaining access to a meaningful education and improved confidence and security, Peyton has become a fierce advocate for herself and for others. Some people, however, have refused to accept what she’s had to say and some have even called her a fraud or questioned her ability to understand human emotions or have an opinion. They have done everything in their power to undermine her success or silence her.
Peyton was basically placed on trial – not because of something she had done, but because she is autistic and communicates differently.
On a Tuesday morning in November, a judge granted Peyton’s mother FULL and LEGAL CUSTODY of Peyton. When Peyton learned the news she communicated, “Thank you! Tell mom, ‘I love you! Thank you for fighting for me!’ So happy!!”
On that same Tuesday afternoon, the same judge, without ever meeting or allowing Peyton to testify, made a devastating decision that impacted Peyton’s education, happiness, and hope for her future.
This judge, at the urging of Peyton’s father, ordered Peyton to return to her previous public school that had FAILED to provide Peyton access to reliable communication, safety and security, supports for her sensory-motor needs, challenging academics (reportedly only offered 43 min/day and 4 hours/week of academic teaching), or the chance for a diploma. They, instead, SUCCEEDED in reporting 187 “physical behaviors” in a 6 week time period, giving her multiple suspensions, referring her to two inpatient hospitalizations, and eventually recommending she would be best served in a residential institution three hours away from her family.
In one swift decision, this judge allowed Peyton to be stripped of her civil rights, denied her right to a free and APPROPRIATE education (FAPE), and virtually silenced her. At the same moment, the judge denied this mother, the legal guardian, the right to ensure Peyton’s protection from prejudice, continued trauma, educational neglect, isolation, and persecution.
Peyton’s single mother has sole custody of Peyton, works full-time as a teacher, and is a recent cancer survivor. She believes strongly in Peyton and fights hard for her. The stress of many months of custody hearings and related expenses are difficult to bear alone. The financial worries pale in comparison to the anguish of watching the system fail to protect her daughter.
Peyton’s hope has been lost. Those who see her everyday recognize the destructive toll this decision has had on her emotional and physical health. Her trauma is deepening as she faces the fact that many people who vowed to protect her and fight for her have simply failed her. People she trusted have neglected their responsibilities to protect her and her civil rights. She has been discriminated against – not because of anything she has done, but because she is autistic and communicates differently.
Peyton’s daily support needs are also of immediate concern because she is unable to care for herself independently. She requires highly trained and qualified 1:1 support during school, as well as before and after-school during the hours that her mom is working. And, anytime she wants to go out with peers or participate in a community activity, she needs staff to support her. Like every parent, her mother needs respite at times. Self-care is crucial for parents of children with special needs. As Peyton recently communicated, “Mom, please take care of yourself. I need you around to take care of me!” Peyton has support staff that she works well with, but 1:1 supports require funding. Peyton receives some support hours from a state disability waiver, but the hours are not adequate to support her needs for the full year.
How can you help? Funding is desperately need to ensure that Peyton and her mom can fight the legal fight ahead of them to appeal this arbitrary and hurtful decision. Funding will also help ensure that Peyton has access to the specialized supports she needs to pursue this fight for JUSTICE?
Peyton deserves justice.
Peyton deserves an education.
Peyton deserves freedom from persecution.
And, Peyton deserves for her voice to be heard!
-Team Peyton
(Team Peyton is made up of concerned family, friends, staff, community members, and others who believe in Peyton’s ability to be a change-maker.)”
Peyton S AUTISM ON TRIAL - My Cry for Justice Same. ABA. Every. Single. Day. That was my life before I was given a chance to communicate on a letter board. Se
