article - Disabled students at risk

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Disabled students at risk> > > > > > Some cases of abuse are so egregious they shock even seasoned > police > > officers. Such was the case of Terry Neff, a former special > > education paraprofessional sentenced this month to 30-60 years in > > prison for raping one of his students. Neff, who had met the > student > > when he worked in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School > > District, had a felony drug conviction in Indiana for which he > > served prison time, according to police. > > > > Since paraprofessionals are not required to undergo background > > checks, his conviction never surfaced. > > > > "I've been in law enforcement for 10 years now, and this single > case > > bothered me more than any other case because of the trust issue > and > > the fact that she had an 18-month-old's capacity," said Detective > > Abe DeVol of the Kalkaska County Sheriff's Department. "To look at > > her and see her abilities -- it really makes you sick." > > > > The girl's father, Yves Champt, who is allowing The News to use > his > > name, said he had trusted no one to care for his daughter until he > > met Neff at her school. He and his wife left their 19-year-old > > daughter in his care so they could enjoy a summer afternoon > > together. Before they left, Champt got a call that will forever > > haunt him. > > > > "Your daughter has been raped," a Department of Natural Resources > > officer told him. > > > > Neff, 53, had assaulted his daughter in the woods before DNR > > officers found them. > > > > "The mission was to sexually molest children, not just any > > children ... but the ones that are helpless, the ones that cannot > > speak or defend themselves," said Champt, 49. > > > > Now Champt is lobbying for the state to require nationwide > criminal > > background checks for paraprofessionals. > > > > Shakeshaft's report notes that disabled students are more likely > to > > be sexually abused than students without disabilities. > > > > To curb educator sexual abuse, Shakeshaft says leaders need to > track > > the problem. > > > > "We know the number of reindeer in Alaska," Shakeshaft said. "Why > > don't we know the number of children who are sexually exploited by > > trusted adults? ... It is shameful." > > > > > > > > > > U.S. Department of Education estimates that one in 10 children > will > > encounter sexual misconduct from a school employee.> > http://www.detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0504/24/A01-159850.htm> > > > > > Some cases of abuse are so egregious they shock even seasoned > police > > officers. Such was the case of Terry Neff, a former special > > education paraprofessional sentenced this month to 30-60 years in > > prison for raping one of his students. Neff, who had met the > student > > when he worked in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School > > District, had a felony drug conviction in Indiana for which he > > served prison time, according to police. > > > > Since paraprofessionals are not required to undergo background > > checks, his conviction never surfaced. > > > > "I've been in law enforcement for 10 years now, and this single > case > > bothered me more than any other case because of the trust issue > and > > the fact that she had an 18-month-old's capacity," said Detective > > Abe DeVol of the Kalkaska County Sheriff's Department. "To look at > > her and see her abilities -- it really makes you sick." > > > > The girl's father, Yves Champt, who is allowing The News to use > his > > name, said he had trusted no one to care for his daughter until he > > met Neff at her school. He and his wife left their 19-year-old > > daughter in his care so they could enjoy a summer afternoon > > together. Before they left, Champt got a call that will forever > > haunt him. > > > > "Your daughter has been raped," a Department of Natural Resources > > officer told him. > > > > Neff, 53, had assaulted his daughter in the woods before DNR > > officers found them. > > > > "The mission was to sexually molest children, not just any > > children ... but the ones that are helpless, the ones that cannot > > speak or defend themselves," said Champt, 49. > > > > Now Champt is lobbying for the state to require nationwide > criminal > > background checks for paraprofessionals. > > > > Shakeshaft's report notes that disabled students are more likely > to > > be sexually abused than students without disabilities. > > > > To curb educator sexual abuse, Shakeshaft says leaders need to > track > > the problem. > > > > "We know the number of reindeer in Alaska," Shakeshaft said. "Why > > don't we know the number of children who are sexually exploited by > > trusted adults? ... It is shameful." > > > > > > > > > > U.S. Department of Education estimates that one in 10 children > will > > encounter sexual misconduct from a school employee.> > http://www.detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0504/24/A01-159850.htm