PICKERINGTON, Ohio-Jenny Hanna and other parents in Pickerington Local School District are facing significant issues with special education services. Hanna discovered that her 14-year-old daughter, who needs a dedicated paraprofessional due to autism and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, had been without one for four years. This was contrary to what was stipulated in her daughter’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), but there was no documentation to confirm this. Despite the district’s acknowledgment of the issues and a planned special education audit, parents feel the response is inadequate and delayed. Hanna’s daughter finally received a paraprofessional after a long delay, but this led to a shortage in another classroom, impacting other students. The Martins face a similar problem with one paraprofessional stretched thin among multiple students with special needs, leading to concerns about inadequate support for all involved.
