Police and DCFS are investigating a report that a teacher physically abused a non-verbal child with disabilities at Gages Lake School, which is a special education school in Lake County.
The incident reportedly happened at Gages Lake School, 18180 West Gages Lake Road in Gages Lake, which is part of the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL).
SEDOL is a cooperative educational system working with 31 local school districts to serve students facing physical, emotional and other learning challenges
School officials said Tuesday in a letter to parents that they were aware of recent social media posts containing allegations that a staff member at Gages Lake School was physically abusive to students.
A Facebook user said in a public post this week that he was asking his community of followers to seek justice and stand up after his friend’s daughter, who is a 10-year-old non-verbal girl with Down Syndrome, was allegedly abused by a teacher.
“According to the family, this child was smacked, choked, and pinched multiple times, leaving visible bruises and emotional trauma. Because she is non-verbal, she cannot tell her own story, making it even more important that we speak up on her behalf,” the user said in the post.
The child was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
“We understand that information of this nature can be concerning for students, families, and staff. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” the school district said.
“We take all allegations involving student welfare seriously and follow established procedures whenever concerns are brought to our attention. At this time, the matter is being reviewed by the appropriate authorities,” the district added.
The school said they are fully cooperating with both the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as they conduct their investigations. SEDOL said they are also conducting their own internal investigation.
No charges have been filed so far. “Because this is an active investigation, and to protect the privacy rights of those involved, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”
The school district asked the community to “refrain from speculation and allow the investigative process to proceed.”
“We remain committed to maintaining a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for all students. Should there be information that can be appropriately shared, we will communicate with families, staff, and the larger SEDOL community as necessary,” the district said.