Special Education Staffers Accused Of Abusive Practices

BEL AIR, Md. (WJZ) -- Classroom abuse investigation. Outrage after a new report details neglect, physical and verbal abuse of autistic students. New details from the woman who exposed the corruption.

An investigation found staff sprayed young special education students with water and threatened them with a rolling pin at a Harford County elementary school.

Amid the outrage, changes are taking place to make sure that doesn't happen again.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren reports the Maryland Disability Law Center brought the abuse to light.

All of it is outlined in the report. The investigator who spent months looking into the abuse allegations says even she was surprised by what she uncovered and she says that the teacher kept getting positive evaluations.

Leslie Margolis outlined the stunning allegations in this report of what she calls the abuse of autistic students at Hickory Elementary in Bel Air.

"It was outrageous. I've been doing this work for 30 years. I've seen a lot, but this was probably the hardest thing I've done," said Margolis.

Her nonprofit, the Maryland Disability Law Center, found evidence staff in one class at the Harford County school repeatedly sprayed children with water, threatened them with markers and a rolling pin and even trapped a little boy behind partitions.

"While he could move, he couldn't walk around the classroom. He was just barricaded," said Margolis. "As I watched this unfold, it was really unconscionable."

Harford County schools declined an interview, but told WJZ in a statement they have since revamped and expanded autism education, and that: "We have worked with the Maryland Disability Law Center in addressing the issues that were identified in their report and continue to do so."

Rebecca Rienzi runs Pathfinders for Autism.

"It's completely devastating, and it's going to create a situation where school becomes a frightening place to be," said Rienzi. "To me, it really shouts of the complete ignorance of the people who were in the classroom."

What happened inside that classroom will have a long-term impact on those kids.

"Some of them were going home and doing things like taking the spray bottles from the kitchen and spraying the dog or banging on tables," said Marholis.

While no criminal charges have been filed and Child Protective Services declined to take action, Margolis minces no words when talking about the extent of the problems:

"Every possible place where there was supposed to be accountability, this broke down. This was a total failure at every level," she said.

In a statement, the Harford County executive said in part he was concerned about the allegations.

Because these student are so vulnerable, the report recommends Harford County develop a whistleblower hotline, where people can anonymously voice concerns about special education programs.