Grandmother, Autistic Child Alleges Abuse at Atlantic City School

Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt reported to us several weeks ago about an allegation of physical abuse of an autistic child at an Atlantic City, New Jersey public school.

Now, a Grandmother has publicly revealed allegations that her grandson has been physically abused at the Pennsylvania Avenue school.

Cathy Marie wrote me the following last evening, Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

Cathy Marie noted to me that she has cerebral palsy and she apologized for her writing skills.

Since the allegations are so explosive in nature, we are including all of Cathy Marie’s comments without editing as follows:

My grandson who is autistic and 10 years old goes to Pennsylvania avenue School here in Atlantic City my grandson had a meltdown in school today and they suspended him from school and autistic disabled child my grandson has come home with a busted lip scratch marks up and down his arms and pinch marks which the teacher says he has done to himself my grandson loves School and any other teacher that he has had will say the same they love my grandson there was an aide that came forth in Pennsylvania avenue School and said she saw personally and that another age she so-called says was pinching my grandson and autistic child my grandson absolutely loves School and every day he goes to school he's having meltdowns because he is triggering by whatever is going on in that classroom with him so they suspended him as I say and on the way home from school on the bus he has another meltdown and everyday he gets off the bus he is visibly crying so today they called the police to escort my grandson off the bus a 10 year old disabled autistic child they send three police officers to escort a disabled child off a bus tell me where that makes sense these AIDS on the school bus are not trained to deal with autistic children and if you know anything about autistic children you do not in fact yell at them or grab them in any way which will cause him to have a meltdown my grandson loves to be on the bus he gets so excited now the boy doesn't even want to go to school and like I said he comes off the bus every day crying so not only is he being traumatized in school by whatever is going on in the classroom all they can say is that my grandson is doing these things to himself we know in fact that this teacher has also abused another student last year and he is also being traumatized on the School by whatever is going on in the classroom all they can say is that my grandson is doing these things to himself we know in fact that this teacher has also abused another student last year and he is also being traumatized on the School bus are not trained on how to deal with autistic children my grandson is nonverbal so he cannot tell us what is going on and this is not like my grandson to be lashing out the way he is he is in fear a school should be a safe haven for a child but instead he is being traumatize.

Carhy Marie wrote me that “my heart is broken for him … the boy loves School Harry and he cries everyday he's come home with a busted lip scratch marks up and down his arms and pinch marks they say he's doing it to himself. He's nonverbal and can't speak out so we have to be his voice,” said Cathy Marie.

These allegations are specific and serious in nature.

It is incumbent upon the state of New Jersey to immediately open an investigation into these allegations and take whatever appropriate action is deemed to be warranted.

SOURCES: Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt and Cathy Marie.