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Parents say school employees abused special needs daughter

WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Parents say school employees abused special needs daughter

State Court
School

FAYETTEVILLE – The parents of a special needs student say a school aide physically and verbally abused their nine-year-old daughter, including frequently rubbing her own and other saliva in her face.

W.R. and C.R., as parents of E.R., filed their complaint November 13 in Fayette Circuit Court against Amanda Hollandsworth and the Fayette County Board of Education. Hollandsworth is an aide at New River Intermediate School in Oak Hill.

Last October, Hollandsworth was charged with three counts of battery and assault of a disabled child, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fayette County Magistrate Court. She later was released on a $25,000 bond.


Salango | File photo

“It is difficult to watch video surveillance of anyone being mistreated, but when the victim is a special needs child, it makes it that much more horrific,” attorney Ben Salango told The West Virginia Record. “These children deserve to attend school without being subjected to cruelty, ridicule and abuse.”

E.R. is a special needs child who suffers from autism, ADHD and other mental disabilities. She was in the special education class at NRIS during the 2023-24 school year. She requires assistance with education and daily living activities.

According to the complaint, E.R. regularly drools and occasionally spits because of her disability. Over the course of several days, she spent an extensive amount of time with Hollandsworth and teacher Jane Skeldon in a room adjoining the sensory classroom.

The complaint says E.R. was subjected to the abuse by Hollandsworth and Skelton from September 25 to September 27 last year. Video footage shows instances of physical and verbal abuse by Hollandsworth and Skelton, including threatening, ridiculing and taunting E.R. about her disabilities.

On the first two days, Hollandsworth and Skeldon grabbed the back of the girl’s neck and jerked her by her arm before pushing her face and forcing her into the sensory classroom, according to the complaint. In that room, Skeldon pushed the girl down onto a beanbag.

On the third day, Hollandsworth violently grabbed E.R. and pushed her into the sensory room, according to the complaint. Hollandsworth then jerked a beanbag out from under the girl, who fell hard to the floor. Hollandsworth then removed all beanbags so the girl would not have access to them.

“One way or the other, you’re going to learn,” Hollandsworth told E.R, according to the complaint. “You’re going to think twice before you go spitting on somebody. … Your crying is not working.”

It says Hollandsworth then screamed at the girl, grabbed her forcefully, pushed her and rubbed saliva all over her face.

“Later that day, defendant Hollandsworth yelled, ‘Don’t you dare’ to E.R.,” the complaint states. “As the child tried to get away, defendant Hollandsworth grabbed her arm, jerked her up and again forcefully rubbed saliva all over E.R.’s face. … An employee of defendant Fayette County Board of Education stood in the doorway and witnessed the incident but negligently failed to intervene.

“On numerous days, defendant Hollandsworth and Ms. Skeldon grabbed E.R.’s hand and wiped spit across E.R.’s face. On one occasion, Ms. Skelton said to E.R., ‘Does that help with spitting, is your nose clogged up?’ Defendant Hollandsworth also spat on the floor herself and used E.R.’s hand to wipe up the saliva and rubbed it across E.R.’s face. On several occasions, defendant Hollandsworth held her hand over E.R.’s mouth until E.R. cried.”

The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of unlawful disability harassment and discrimination in violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, civil assault and battery as well as a tort of outrage.

They seek past and future economic and non-economic compensatory damages, pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.

They are being represented by Ben Salango and Kristina Salango of Salango Law in Charleston.

Fayette Circuit Court case number 24-C-138

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