Lawsuit: Williamson turned away child with Down syndrome

Friday, October 26, 2018, Vol. 42, No. 43

FRANKLIN (AP) — A family is suing a school district in Tennessee's wealthiest county for repeatedly denying their child with Down syndrome access to its afterschool program.

The Tennessean reported Thursday that federal lawsuit says Williamson County Schools has denied the girl access to the program three times, saying it can't hire a one-on-one aide for her. The student has a one-on-one paraprofessional during the regular school day.

The lawsuit says the district promised the next hired aide would be made available for the child, but that hasn't happened. It says the system has continued to admit children "without disabilities, or those with disabilities who did not need an aide." The parents are asking the district be ordered to hire the aide.

The district declined the newspaper's request for comment, citing pending litigation.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com