As the father of a child with autism, I know first-hand the fears parents experience when they send their children to school to be cared for by personnel who (more often than not) are inadequately trained. One of the main characteristics of autism is the lack of communication and social skills.  Most experts agree that, beginning at an early age, these individuals need at least 40 hours per week  speech/language services.  Mississippi Public Schools are sorely lacking in providing these services.  Some of the things the Clarion Ledger did not report in the article below:  1. Any testimony given by the Pigford's witnesses.  2. Numerous pictures of Jacob that were put into evidence.  3. Jacob is not only autistic but he is also severely mentally retarded.  4. Testimony was given that Jacob's Individual Education Plan (IEP) didn't contain any special accommodations.  5. I am told by the Pigfords that the reason that they filed this law suit was to bring public awareness to the abuse that occurs to individuals with disabilities in public schools.  They also filed the suit because the Jackson Public School District refused to admit any wrongdoing . ~Johnny McPhail Scroll Down for:
news updates-5-16-2002; 5-16-02; 7-10-02 and
Letter to MS Board of Education Members 5-13-2002

Just one of the many photos of Jacob Pigford that was placed into evidence.
Another Photo

May 9, 2002

Trial ends in suit against JPS

Parents seeking $1B, say teacher's aide hurt autistic son

By Jimmie E. Gates
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer

A teacher's aide testified Wednesday that he was trying to restrain an autistic student when he grabbed him by the arms. If the student was injured, he said, he didn't realize it.

Michael and Terri Pigford are suing Jackson Public Schools, alleging the teacher's aide, Magill Jones, "negligently and with force" injured their then 20-year-old son, Jacob Pigford, who was a special education student at Forest Hill High School.

Unable to talk, Jacob Pigford came home from school Nov. 15, 1999, with large bruises on his arms, his parents said.
The couple filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the school district, although the most they could collect under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act is $500,000.

The bench trial, which started last week, ended Wednesday. Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green said she expected to render a decision in a couple of weeks.

"This case has dragged on long enough," Green said. "It's time for the Pigfords to have some closure and for JPS to have closure."

Green said her decision will be based upon whether the actions of Jones and the school district rose to gross negligence. That decision will determine whether the district is liable, she said.

Jones testified Wednesday that he was trying to restrain Jacob for his own safety.
Jones said Pigford was in the hallway at the front of a line of about 20 students. The students were being led from the cafeteria to a classroom.

Jones said Pigford began to jerk and pull.

"He began to swing his arm and tailspin in the hall. He dropped to his knees. I went around and said to Jacob to get up. He wouldn't get up," Jones said. "I went around and took him from behind and pulled him up by his arms. He continued to fight. He was very upset."

Jones, who said it was common for Pigford to have such behavior problems, said he didn't want Pigford to get hurt in the hallway, where students were trying to get to class, so he guided him into the classroom.

Federal law requires special education students be placed in the same school as other students.
On cross-examination, Jones testified that he had been told by a teacher in the exceptional education program that if Jacob dropped to his knees, to let him stay there until he decided to get up.

Another teacher testified Wednesday that Jacob didn't like to be touched. "He was somewhat strong-willed," said Donald Terry, a teacher in the exceptional education program.

Terry said it was common for Pigford to spin around and sit on the floor. He said he didn't see the incident with Pigford and Jones, other than seeing Jones guiding Pigford back into line.

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0205/09/m04.html

WLBT.com Channel-3 News--Jackson MS

Jackson 05/15/02
Teacher's Aide Faces Two Charges Of Abuse

By: Maggie Wade
maggie@wlbt.net

For a Jackson family, it's unthinkable what happened to their disabled son at school. Mike and Terri Pigford say their son was bruised and suffered contusions at the hands of a teacher's aide at Forest Hill High School. It happened in 1999, but for the family their fight for the truth and justice for their son continues. Full Story
=========================================================================
WAPT 16 TheJacksonChannel.com

Jackson 05/16/02
Teacher Accused Of Beating Boys
Mothers Say They Want To Make Sure It Never Happens Again

A teacher in the Jackson Public School System is accused of abusing children.

Two mothers said that their sons were beaten by Miguel Jones, currently a teacher at Blackburn Middle School.

When 20-year-old Jacob Pickford, who is autistic, arrived home from Forest Hill on Nov. 15, 1999, his mother, Terry, said she found marks all over his body
"When I saw the injuries, I gasped," she said.
She said she knews Jason's behavior could get erratic, but said the injuries he sustained were not self-inflicted.

On Oct. 18, 2000, Antonio Perry allegedly came home with bruises.
Regina said administrators at Lake Elementary acted as though it was not an isolated incident or an accident.
"Somebody knew that Mr. Jones had been through this before," she said. Full Story
===============================================================================

July 10, 2002

Judge throws out parents' $1B suit against JPS

By Jimmie E. Gates
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Jackson Public Schools by the parents of an autistic child who alleged a teacher's aide "negligently and with force" injured their son's arms.

Jacob Pigford, who is unable to talk, came home from school Nov. 15, 1999, with large bruises on his arms, his parents said.

Michael and Terri Pigford sued JPS in Hinds County Circuit Court, alleging the teacher's aide Magill Jones injured their then-20-year-old son, a special education student at Forest Hill High School.

Jones testified during the May bench trial before Circuit Judge Tomie T. Green that he was trying to restrain the student when he grabbed him by the arms. If the student was injured, he said, he didn't realize it.

Green ruled Tuesday that the "evidence dictates a finding that any injury resulting from Jones' inartful attempt to protect Jacob and the other Forest Hill students were unintended."
Michael Pigford said the case will be appealed.

"We would have felt a lot better if she would have ruled that it was wrong to do this to a child and awarded no money," Pigford said.

The couple filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the school district, but the most they could have collected under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act is $500,000.

JPS Staff Attorney JoAnn Nelson said the district was gratified with the ruling.

Although Green dismissed the lawsuit, the case against Jones isn't completely over. Green is scheduled to conduct a hearing Tuesday to determine whether sanctions should be awarded for discovery violations, or whether Jones perjured himself before the court.

Jones couldn't be reached Tuesday for comment.

Nelson said she couldn't comment on that part of the case because Green is conducting a hearing.

The Pigfords said they learned Jones had been arrested in the assault of a student at another school after the incident with their son. They said Jones and JPS did not reveal that he had been arrested after the 1999 incident, as required by the rules of discovery evidence.

Regina Perry, a mother of a second-grade student at Lake Elementary School, filed an assault charge against Jones in October 2000, alleging he hit her son in the back with a closed hand.

The case was scheduled to be heard in Jackson Municipal Court, but Perry said she was told last week the case will be transferred to Hinds County Court.

Jones made no mention of any other allegation against him during his testimony in the Pigford case.
Jones is only charged by a parent with hitting a child. He has not been convicted of the offense.

Source:  http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0207/10/m06.html