Let's vote Wendy Portillo out of her Kindergarten class!

5:17 pm PST, Nov 26, Isabella Klinghammer, Pennsylvania
I have two little brothers with Autism who's teachers have gone above and beyond to help them. This woman should be fired and have it follow her the rest of her life. You are a horrible excuse for a human being.

11:41 am PST, Nov 26, Stanley Godwin, United Kingdom
This disgusting abomination ought to be locked in prison aswell as sacked, i would rather have adolf hitler teach my children.

11:29 am PST, Nov 26, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
reading about what she did, actually made me cry, i have 2 autistic brothers and i have seen people discriminate them infront of my very eyes, thinking about it makes me feel sick. She deserves to be banned from every school, it was basically a form of child abuse and the way she acted made her look no more mature than the children she was 'teaching'

10:05 am PST, Nov 22, Shannon Morris, Missouri
I have to wonder how Ms Portillo would feel if something like this happened to her own child. The world can be hard enough for any child, especially those with disabilities. The two children who voted to keep Alex in the class deserve praise, and should never have to be exposed to the mentality of people like Ms Portillo.

11:45 am PST, Nov 21, Clarissa Rackovan, Missouri

10:36 am PST, Nov 21, Laura Morris, Missouri
We do not need people as close-minded and ignorant of children with special needs guiding the minds of our youth.

12:17 pm PST, Nov 20, Jeremy Brown, Colorado
We as parents to an autistic child, are they're only advocates. This is our way of being advocates for other parents with children that are on the autistic spectrum.

2:29 pm PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, California

2:14 pm PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, Florida
She ought to be ashamed of herself.

1:01 pm PST, Nov 19, John P O'Brien, California
I think what she did should ban her from teaching anywhere ever again. A teacher who would do this to a student especially one with special needs is no better in my opinion then somone who abuses children. I hope this incedent ruins the rest of her life.

10:40 pm PST, Nov 18, Theresa Jackson, Iowa
My son has PDDNOS on the Autism Spectrum and Severe ADHD Combined type. We were told not to come back to bible school when he was 4. Now, at age 7, we have been told (by threat of a petition) that parents do not want my son at "their" (public) school for cussing. He very rarely hits, kicks, or tantrums to a melt down, since we changed medicine and got help from our states mental health waiver that provides oversight with the school, his in-home family therapist, individual therapist, and psyc Dr. etc. (trying to convince those who don't understand for some reason, only allow themselves to try to understand when someone besides a family member tries to explain, thus backing up the families needs and wants and to convey that their son is safe/happy/content(most who don't understand ADHD and/or Autism think it's a mother and/or fathers fault for the behavior and that the parents should take better control of their child)) We go in cycles... good... bad... good... not so good... We take one day at a time. My son's behavior is reflective of his environment and his respect for others mirrors their respect for him. Because I'm now unemployed after 10 years of continuous employment (staff reduction, ya right!)I pulled my son out of school today until they can find a better environment that accommodates and facilitates his learning style. I refuse to have my son, be anywhere, he is not wanted. It only makes him hurt more! He is not comfortable, he doesn't feel safe! His first true emotion was "I love you, mommy" at age 4. Empathy came shortly after. Yes, happy, sad, mad etc... age 5&6. This summer was the first time he experienced fear - of the swimming pool! When he started 2nd grade this year, (in a room with 10 kids, 2/3/4/and 5th grades with oppositional defiance and conduct disorder (my son was the only 2nd grader and the only one with autism)) his classmates taunted and started to bully him. Come to find out, he was scared! He had his first nightmare and we found out he had tornadoes in his head. He would not and still will not sleep in his bedroom because it faces the neighbors house who we have already gone through mediation with and who is very rude, obnoxious, and belligerent towards him). I can't wait for him to learn pain! This may seem cruel, but when a child doesn't feel pain, they don't understand that when they hit, kick, etc... someone else, that it hurts, because they don't know what hurt is! (He has had a broken thumb, stitches and staples in his head, bumps, bruises, feet/legs raw from eczema, stomach aches, head aches etc. where he cannot communicate to me that "it hurts".) I'm telling you all of this because until you put yourself in their shoes, you really have no idea what it's like to be them. But I have to tell ya, that if you stop and observe without passing judgment, he is trying as only he know how, to tell you something. What he is really trying to tell me and/or those around him, is that something in his environment is either too loud, too cold, too hot, changed is someway that confuses him, provoked by someone or something, doesn't understand what was just said or done or, want to say something but don't know how to say it ... etc... the list goes on and on that has caused him some type of stress. What everyone around him needs to do is to step back and try to look at it through his eyes, ears, nose, touch, and taste (yes, taste too!). Figure out the triggers, so adjustments/accommodations can be made. For example, the buzz from the microphone is just unbearable, the smell of the perfume of the lady who sits in front of him is intolerable, or that maybe the reason he threw his glue at a classmate was because his friend hasn't come over to his house for two weeks because he had a flat tire on his bike! Ya, we found out that one a few weeks ago. (But we later found out, that his mom don't want him playing with my son, because he cusses at school) :-( very sad! I know! But that won't happen anymore! Because he won't be going back. Tomorrow is a new day! The agenda! A social story about TOOTHPASTE - he needs to start using it sooner or later. Wish us luck - the taste test begins along with surfing the net to find pictures of teeth that have cavities and/or are stained beyond repair. I pray that someday, people will grow to understand that God loves us for who we are, not for who society wants us to be!

2:25 pm PST, Nov 10, Angela Mann, California
Let's stop discrimination in this elementary school once and for all.

7:53 am PST, Nov 8, Tiffany Lavine, Ohio
My son was discriminated by his school too. They didn't do anything about it. I called my attorney and the school threaten me with their attorney. They have money and I don't. I had to drop it. I now homeschool and he has achieved more than the 3 years he went to normal school. She should have to do community service with autistic children under the supervised watch of parents.

1:29 pm PST, Nov 7, Phillip Alvey, Maryland

8:48 am PST, Nov 6, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

6:03 am PST, Nov 6, Name not displayed, Canada
I support your petition in theory but to have someone fired isn't the correct way to go about it. What the teacher did is wrong but I believe in forgiveness. She should definitely be made to retract her actions in front of the class and state what she did is a mistake and we all make them. She should be made to take some sensitivity training and additional autism training . Maybe put on some kind of probation until these requirements are met.The child in question should be placed in another classroom so he doesn't have to feel the humiliation associated by the incident.The teacher should also do some volunteer hours with an autism charity so she gets more understanding of proper procedures and comfortable with all types of children/people special needs especially.

4:57 am PST, Nov 4, Wayne Elliott, United Kingdom

1:05 am PST, Nov 4, Claire Stansfield, United Kingdom
This so called human being needs to be sacked not reassigned to another class or school. What she has done to this little boy is nothing short of criminal! Children with autism invarably suffer from low self esteem and it takes a long time to make them feel worthy and seconds to unravel that confidence, that is exactly what this sad sorry excuse for a teacher has done to this poor boy. She has took away from him every small ounce of self esteem and confidence. Lets hope and pray this poor excuse of a human being never has a child of her own be it "normal" or disabled in a any way.

5:22 pm PDT, Oct 31, Name not displayed, Armed Forces Pacific

1:50 pm PDT, Oct 23, Eyal Edelman, Canada
OMG. She should go.

4:41 pm PDT, Oct 18, Andy Watts, Louisiana
My Son Ace was classified with Asperger's Syndrome at his school last year. I'd be very upset, if that happened to him!

11:35 am PDT, Oct 18, Paul Yeskelawitch, Pennsylvania

9:03 am PDT, Oct 16, Name not displayed, Texas
I say what goes around comes around and she should not only be dismissed in the same fashion she sought to dismiss Alex, but throw in a little Donald Trump, too, and let her hear, "YOUR FIRED!" I'm a teacher, too and she disgraces all the hard work and sacrifice we do to give our profession a good name and respect. SHAME ON YOU WENDY! SHAME ON YOU!

7:56 am PDT, Oct 16, Emily Schwarz, New York
HOW DARE YOU PUT DOWN SUCH A SWEET BOY LIKE ALEX? I HOPE THE PARENTS DO THE SAME THING TO YOU TO PUSH YOU OUT OF THE SCHOOL! YOU MADE ALEX FEEL SO HORRIBLE!!! YOU ARE ONE DAMN SICKO!!!!!!!!!

2:45 am PDT, Oct 16, Warren Waldrup, Texas
Mom, from a parent who has had to fight child abuse for ten years, a piece of advice. Obtain a copy of what the Florida State Government "believes is child abuse" because this was instigated by an adult as you point out and there was no child advocate present during this abusive disciplinary action in the classroom by a professional. Maybe demanding a Grand Jury review is needed if this is not considered abuse by the District Atorney or Florida State Government. Were you contacted by the School officially regarding the discipline, in writting, call you, before you arived at the school? Most Schools are required to report disciplinary actions to the parents, not the other way arround. Seems like it was being hushed up by staff. Was your States DHPS Child Protective Services called in to evaluate? How many other times has she done this to children that the school is not reporting to parents? This type of abusive behavoir usually has a pattern.

12:34 pm PDT, Oct 3, Allison Kenning, Canada
This is disgusting. It needs to be rectifed.

9:56 am PDT, Oct 3, Angela Freund, Minnesota
What you did to that child was cruel and unnecessary. You should have been removed the moment you stopped being a teacher and started being an emotionally abusive influence. People like you are the reason I will be homeschooling my children.

9:42 am PDT, Oct 3, Kathy G, United Kingdom

8:32 am PDT, Oct 3, Name not displayed, Canada
I cannot believe what has happened!!! This teacher should definitely be fired. No questions asked. You never do that to a child or an adult! NEVER!

4:18 pm PDT, Sep 27, Name not displayed, Canada
That's incredibly unprofessional as well as devastating. Kids that young do NOT forget about those kinds of things. I hope this teacher realizes what she did was wrong and gets the appropriate punishment.

5:32 pm PDT, Sep 26, Jaime Cammarata, RD, Pennsylvania

2:23 pm PDT, Sep 26, Stanley Russell, Canada

11:19 am PDT, Sep 26, Shaida Galindo, Idaho
As a mother of a six year old with Autism I am terified and heartbroken by your experience. I am so sorry, and suddenly I feel extremely grateful for my sons teachers.

9:00 am PDT, Sep 23, Jeremy Chandler, Indiana

9:01 am PDT, Sep 20, Christina Chandler, Indiana
As a mother of an autistic boy who started kindergarten this year, I cannot believe the incompentence in the school systems. If the school Officials do nothing to remove her from any teaching position, then they just as guilty as the teacher is. Any and every child should be treated fairly in the classroom. The new laws encourage autistic children to be in the "least restrictive environment" which is usually the public classroom. How can we take heart that our children are being taken care of if there are teachers such as this one that gets away treating them badly.

11:23 am PDT, Sep 19, Name not displayed, Greece

6:07 am PDT, Sep 19, Crystal Hayes, Delaware
That poor little boy. He doesnt deserve any of that. That's just messed up how any one especially a teacher who the child is suppose to look up to, could do something like that to him. It's just not right!! My thoughts and prayers go out to his family!!

5:42 am PDT, Sep 19, Martha Canto, New Jersey

4:34 pm PDT, Sep 16, Ashley Youger, Pennsylvania
Wow , I'm a teenager and I think this is pretty pathetic what the teacher has done. It doesn't matter what is wrong with a child. A teacher is suppose to be there to help the kids, not to bully them. What she did should get her kicked out of her teaching job. PERIOD. I mean, would you send your kid to her class after what she had done ? I surely wouldn't if I had a kid. This is abuse, to many people are picking on the kids that has disabilities . She needs to think about what she has done. I wonder what she would do if she had a child that had a disability , and her kids kindergarten teacher did this to her child . It's wrong , every child needs an education , with her around , I think no child can. Sorry if my grammar is a little off.

10:10 am PDT, Sep 14, Jahaira Lasanta, Florida
Public School Systems and Teachers Across the Country are Taking in Upon Themselves to Discriminate Against Our Special Needs Kids and Their Service Animals. The Teachers and Administrators are Failing to Provide the Appropriate Support for Our Children and Each Other. It has Become Apparent That ANYONE in the Field of Child Developement Today, Needs to go Back to School for Some Updates on Facts & Myths. Sincerely, Mother of 4, One with Autism Disorder.

10:33 am PDT, Sep 13, Laurel Emmons, Canada

9:07 am PDT, Sep 13, Stacey Kirkland, Canada
I care about what happens to these special children.I have a son with ASD.

3:19 pm PDT, Sep 11, Name not displayed, Ohio
I am appauled that a person like Wendy would be allowed to be around children, let alone help to shape their futures. I am a mother of an autistic child and if anything, he has taught me a thing or too.... she as well as the school should be so ashamed and should press charges and take action to have her banned from teaching anywhere again.

8:01 am PDT, Sep 10, Name not displayed, New Jersey
I am a parent of two chidren on the autism spectrum, one who has Asperger's Syndrome. It is very distressing to see to see that while states are striving for inclusion in the schools, a teacher could abuse her power among a group of kindergarten children and exercise an exclusionary act. This teacher sets a poor example for her students. Fortunately, there are many good teachers who would never consider such an action.

12:28 pm PDT, Sep 8, Dana Davis, Georgia
Teacher bullying is being thrust into the spotlite because of disgusting cases like this. Our twin girls have a bully kindergarten teacher who rules her class with intimidation and fear tactics. my girls do not have special needs but it has none the less made them dislike school after only one month of kindergarten! I think teachers should be held to the same standards as parents. If this was a parent emotionally abusing this child what would the local Department of Families and Children have done? This is ABUSE!!!! Professionals should be held to the same if not HIGHER standards. It's always teachers who have been teaching forever who pull stunts like this. They are too comfortable in their positions. Unions should not be able to protect teaching staff at the cost of the children's well being.

12:24 pm PDT, Sep 7, William Guest, California
Is this the level of training we could expect for employees of this school system? As she was involved in Alex Barton's IEP, she was fully informed, and involved in how to properly handle the situation. Why was she allowed to torment this child? Why is she still employed by this school system? Is this how they train employees to act around small children? Are their other employees trained in the same manner? Do they plan to treat (or worse, have they already treated) other innocent children in this negligent and possibly criminal manner? Horrifying!

1:55 pm PDT, Sep 3, Helen Stettner, South Carolina
I'm sort of in the same boat with a few exceptions my son was in K4 and after the first week he was told he could not come back to school by the assistant principal. Fortunately for us my son missed a week and a day of school. However, everyday he'd wake up and ask me why he couldn't go to school. It broke my heart not to really have an answer for except mommy is working on it. He was diagnosed with ADHD and PDD NOS (Asperger's syndrome). Today 9-3-08 was his first day back and it was very difficult for him. He didn't want me to leave. The school did provide him with a shadow, and he will be evaluated by the school. But I'm so disappointed with this school and how they attempted to handle my son and even after they have provided him with something rather than nothing it's very hard to trust this school to look out for the best interest of my child. I wish this family the best of luck, and I only pray nothing else like this will happen to any more children.

4:47 pm PDT, Aug 29, Bruce Warren, Canada
Autism should be re-bamed as awe-tism. My son is the most amazing person I know and never fails to leave me in awe of his abilities in pite of his diagnosis. Teachers in particular should be trained in how to handle these students and this one should be fired with no severance package to rot in her cage of ignorance!

5:54 pm PDT, Aug 28, Donna King, New Jersey
If the teacher had a problem with teaching this child, then she should have removed herself from the classroom, instead of forcing her opinion on 5 year olds.

11:01 am PDT, Aug 28, Kimberly Wangnoo, Minnesota
I'm a mom of 2 sons with Asperger's Syndrome, age 21 and 9. It made me absolutely sick to my stomach that this...this...so-called TEACHER could abuse not only the little boy who was singled out and humiliated, but the other children in her care as well by making them think this was all okay. I'm beyond disgusted. I hope by now this cold heartless sorry excuse for a teacher is long gone not only from Morningside Elementary but any other school as well. Take her teaching license away - she hasn't earned the privelege.

4:32 pm PDT, Aug 23, Name not displayed, Germany
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7:32 pm PDT, Aug 22, Name not displayed, Canada

7:27 pm PDT, Aug 22, Amy Long, North Carolina
I have a son with autism spectrum disorder and if a teacher had done that to my child I would sue and do everything I can to get that teacher fired.

2:28 pm PDT, Aug 22, Jane Turner, New Mexico
As the parent of a special needs child that is about to 'age out' of the public school system, I am apalled, but not surprised by this sad story. Ms. Portillo should find a new vocation, something a little more structured, like, janitorial work. My child has benifitted from inclusion, but more importantly, he has educated a countless number of children and adults alike to be patient and compassionate.....

1:37 pm PDT, Aug 21, Brad Debbaudt, Florida

1:03 pm PDT, Aug 21, Lauren Faberlle', New York
I plan on becoming a Special Education teacher for primary school and if I EVER start to turn into this kind of teacher I will personally quit and never teach again! No teacher should be allowed to do this.

10:52 am PDT, Aug 20, Jan Warren-Rucker, North Carolina
where was Child Find? Federal laws should have protected this child....the schools certainly do not. mother of two with AS.

3:12 pm PDT, Aug 19, Tiffany Wells, Kansas
As a mother who also has a kindergartner who is on the spectrum, I am appalled by the actions of this teacher. She should never be allowed to teach again. I vote that Wendy Portillo be permanently removed from the classroom!

10:37 pm PDT, Aug 16, Jodi Giddings, Oregon
Shame on you, Wendy Portillo. Our children deserve better. FInd another job, preferably on another planet.

9:54 pm PDT, Aug 16, Atul Deshpande, Illinois

9:10 pm PDT, Aug 13, Jennifer Cody, Canada
As the mother of an autistic child I know it can be like herding pigeons to try to shepherd an autistic child through a classroom setting, but for any adult, much less one who is a role model teaching the class social skills that they will take with them into their adult lives to be so deliberately cruel makes me ill and breaks my heart for that poor child. This is emotional abuse and she should be kept far FAR away from children in their formative years.

8:25 pm PDT, Aug 13, Matthew Preston, Canada

8:23 pm PDT, Aug 13, Rosalie Preston, Canada
My son has Aspergers along with my brother. The problems that arise from this is lack of impulse control... MEANING THEY CANNOT HELP WHY THEY BEHAVE IN SUCH A MANNOR THAT IS WHY MANY ARE PRESCRIBED ANTI PSYCHOTICS... lETS ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE THAT BITCH OUT OF THE CLASSROOM!!!!

12:05 pm PDT, Aug 13, Name not displayed, Utah
Heartbreaking.

5:21 am PDT, Aug 12, Name not displayed, Georgia

12:54 pm PDT, Aug 11, Barbara Hall, North Carolina
I wonder if the teacher now knows how it feels to hear all the negative things people want to say about you and can now empathize marginally with the hurt experienced by this young child.