Teen tied and shocked for hours; mom calls it "torture": MyFoxBOSTON.com

Cheryl McCollins is calling for the Judge Rotenberg Center to release video that shows her son Andre being tied down and given electrical shocks:

The ordeal began after Andre hit a staff member. Inside a classroom, as a camera was recording, he was tied to a restraint board, face down, a helmet over his head.

He stayed like that for seven hours without a break, no food, no water, or trips to the bathroom. Each time he screamed or tensed up, he was shocked, 31 times in all. His mother called the next day to check on him.

"I said, 'Andre.' I said, 'Hello.' And so he said, 'Help me,'" McCollins said.

After spending three days in a comatose state, not eating or drinking, Andre was taken to Children's Hospital, where he was diagnosed with "acute stress response" caused by the shocks.

Click here to watch on YouTube.

Even though I am not religious, I believe that religion is most often a source of strength and a guide to compassion for families with autistic kids. The video above makes me sad for Ethan, whose parents think God has healed from autism.  What a burden that must be for his tiny frame to carry!  It makes me sad for his parents, who may blame themselves if his "recovery" turns out to be less complete or miraculous than they now believe it to be.  But, really, it makes me saddest of all for the Christians I know who turn to God for help embracing and supporting a child who is different rather than asking Him to obliterate those differences.  It's not my team, but it's a good team, and I hate to see it represented like this.

Couple Accused of Abusing Child with Autism: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

The mother and stepfather of a 12-year-old Arizona boy with Asperger's syndrome have been arrested after his teachers noticed and reported signs of abuse:

Detectives discovered the boy had been routinely beaten by his stepfather Gregory Clyde, causing "extensive and excessive bruising to his buttocks, thighs, arms, and upper legs," according to court documents. The victim was also made to do pushups as a form of discipline and hit with a spatula with serrated edges, the police report alleges.

As for 33-year-old Jennifer Clyde, detectives say she was present when her husband beat her son, and it was her rule that if Gregory had to yell, the boy would be spanked.

Authorities say the punishments went well beyond what is considered reasonable and prudent discipline.

The detective wrote: "It is my belief that this abuse is a result of their frustration at his neurological disorders, even though they have demonstrated absolutely no intention of learning about these disorders and how to better structure [victim]'s home life to accommodate them... [victim] is an inconvenience to their life as a family and shows both through her actions and her direct statements that she is unwilling to put forth the effort to take care of [victim]."

Alexia Bogdis, a Redwood City, California, teacher has been arrested for alleged abuse of two boys at Roosevelt Elementary School:

"The teacher came behind him and kicked his chair forward and my son fell into the table and hurt his chest," the boy's father said, speaking to ABC7 on the condition that he remains anonymous. His 5-year-old autistic son was enrolled in a special education pre-school class taught by Bogdis who has been charged with abusing two boys.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti says there are nine criminal counts, "One, actually kicking a child and then finally, depriving one of them for food or drink the whole day," she explained.

The 5-year-old's father says that boy was his son. "At a time when it was really warm and my son came home and his face was totally red, and he looked like he was about to pass out, and we just kept on giving him water and milk to try to hydrate him," he recalled.

The parents say they complained not only to Bogdis, but to school district officials and others in the school community. "Unfortunately, the common response was, 'You guys are being a little bit too sensitive. This person knows what she's doing and your child is safe.'"

Katy Principal Wins Promotion Despite Abuse Scandal: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Despite the fact that she allowed abuse of autistic students at her school, Principal Imelda Medrano is being promoted.  A special education teacher and two aides are facing criminal charges for their treatment of students at Exley Elementary School in Houston, Texas, but Medrano will lead Katy ISD's new middle school:

The selection has angered the mother of one of the allegedly abused students. That mom asked FOX 26 not to be identified.

"All these things that we've learned about her school came under her watch. These people were hired by her. I don't know how it's possible that she didn't know what was going on in that classroom.

"She seemed out of place and out of touch and certainly not someone who should be getting promoted," that mom said.

thAutcast readers may remember the story of teacher Pam Manning, who is accused of putting vinegar-soaked cotton balls into the mouths of autistic children if they misbehaved.  That happened on Medrano's watch.

However, it is her apparently dishonest behavior after William Sullivan, a nonverbal autistic boy, came home with unexplained "multiple abrasions, bruises and a knot on his head" that raises most concern:

Principal Imelda Medrano promised answers, but took a month and a half to tell William's parents their child's bruises were caused by a chair during a 20-minute struggle with his teacher who was attempting to stop William from biting himself.

Principal Medrano claimed further that she found "no evidence of abuse or improper restraint."

The inquiry could have ended there, but the Sullivans dug deeper and discovered this: a letter which they provided to FOX 26 as solid proof that Katy ISD was involved in a cover-up.

Dated 7 days after William was hurt, the letter reprimands the twin's special ed teacher for failing to report the physical struggle to the Sullivans as required by law.

More critically, the letter clearly states "it is evident that the manner in which you conducted the behavior instruction resulted in injury to this student."

The letters author was Exley principal Imelda Medrano, the same campus leader who would insist a month later that William Sullivan suffered no abuse or improper restraint.

"They covered it up and they lied. They have been lying from the very beginning," insisted Lea. "It is a rude awakening that the people you trust with your children you can't trust. It's not there anymore; it's not ever going to be there."