April 2025: 

The MLO Minute: “Abuse and Trauma in Schools – The Physical Manifestations” — 

By Dennis McAndrews, Esq., Founder and Managing Partner Emeritus — 

Recent press reports have identified serious cases of abuse of children with disabilities in public schools and public charter schools. Each of these cases is deeply disturbing, and our own extensive experience in handling these matters has found that a great many of these situations involve nonverbal children who cannot report to parents and caregivers the abuse and trauma they have experienced.

As a result, we see that abuse in these situations can continue for months and longer, even when parents report to school officials that their child’s conduct has radically changed for unknown reasons to the family. Quite often, this conduct involves reacting violently in the home and efforts by the child to avoid going to school in the morning, and frequently involves crying, vomiting, and other signs of serious concern.

Significantly, major peer-reviewed studies over the last two decades have established that abuse and trauma suffered by children, whether in schools or in other surroundings, causes physical changes in the child’s brain and even in the DNA of the young person.

These physical changes are long-lasting and can affect the child for many years. It is critical that this research be front and center in any case which is brought to pursue justice on behalf of children who are abused and traumatized in schools and other facilities.

If you are concerned that your child is struggling in school, we are here to help. We offer free consultations and record review, and most cases are handled on a contingency basis where families do not pay us a retainer or our hourly fees, which we can recoup upon successful completion of the case from the public school or charter school. If your child is struggling or you believe that appropriate services have not been provided, please reach out to us by CLICKING HERE or by calling 610-648-9300.