Born prematurely at only 24 weeks, Jada O’Neil weighed in at a meager one pound upon delivery. Because of complications with her birth, she was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Now a 15-year-old attending Bolingbrook High School, Jada says that she loves school—or did love it until recently.
According to an article on WLS-TV, Jada came home from school a few weeks ago and explained to her parents that a special education teacher made her clean up blood found in the girls bathroom. The blood was not hers, nor was she given any gloves to clean the contaminant. She mopped the floor, maneuvering the mop while in her wheelchair. By the time she was safe and at home, Jada was complaining of a severe headache, exacerbated by the incident.
But this was only the first confrontation Jada would have with the teacher. After the incident with the mop and blood, Jada alleges that the same teacher threatened to lock her in the bathroom if she continued to run over people’s feet with her wheelchair. The school has been apprised of the situation, stating that the teacher asserts that the cleaning was part of a life lesson, and the threat was merely a joke. Jada’s parents have since moved her to a different high school within the district while the allegations are investigated.
There is no excuse for anyone, regardless of their capability, to be treated in this manner. Our firm has represented many victims seeking compensation for the damages suffered as a result of a birth injury, such as a cerebral palsy diagnosis. We believe in giving compassionate and sensitivity to our clients, and aggressive legal representation for their cases. If you or someone you love has been the victim of inadequate or negligent medical care during birth, talk to our cerebral palsy lawyer about your rights. You may be unaware of damages in which you can seek compensation.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – cerebral palsy attorneys
[Did You Know: The average medical costs for a person with cerebral palsy over their lifetime are $1 million more than costs for a person without the disability.]
