Mom calls for cameras in classroom after son with special needs allegedly slapped by staff member

The Halton District School Board is investigating after a boy with special needs was allegedly slapped in the face by an educational assistant at an Oakville elementary school — prompting the boy's mother to demand cameras in the classroom.

The 12-year-old, who's been attending the school for three years, is in Grade 7 and is in a special needs class. He has celebral palsy and autism and is non-verbal. The incident happened at Falgarwood Public School on Nov. 24. The parents say they were informed by the principal on Nov. 25 and reported the incident to Halton Police on Nov. 30.

The boy's mother, Abeer Danal, said when she first heard about the incident her first thought was that her son is not safe.

"I cried a lot. I was so scared. It shocked me because it's 2021 in Canada."

She said the educational assistant's "reaction was unacceptable."

Marnie Denton, spokesperson for the Halton District School Board, said it cannot comment further because it is a personnel matter and declined to say whether the educational assistant has been removed from the classroom.

Dandal said another educational assistant witnessed the incident and reported it to the principal. She said she has been told the educational assistant will be out of the classroom until the investigation is complete. 

She said it is not uncommon for her son to scratch or bite those around him and said his teachers are aware of his behaviour. Educational assistants are trained to be with children with special needs and understand their reactions, she added.

The incident happened when the educational assistant was dancing with her son, who uses a wheelchair, she said.

"He grabbed her hands in a tough way. Maybe he's upset from something. Maybe he's sometimes happy. So her reaction was like that," she said.

Dandal said she has a message to the educational assistant: "If you cannot work with special needs, find another job." And she will now lobby for cameras in the classroom.

The board, however, is not in favour of that idea.

"Installing cameras in classrooms is not being considered because of issues of privacy for all students in the classroom," Denton said.

Molly Reynolds, a privacy lawyer at Torys LLP in Toronto, said constant surveillance of staff and students could pose legal risks. The privacy considerations of everyone in the room have to be considered, she said. The board would have to get consent from everyone, she added.