A paraeducator from a rural Kansas school district has been accused of repeatedly abusing a teenager with Down syndrome, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court. The lawsuit alleges that the paraprofessional physically assaulted the 15-year-old, locking him in a utility closet, hitting him, and even photographing him in a cage used to store athletic equipment.

The lawsuit, filed by the teen's parents on Friday, claims that the paraprofessional sent the humiliating photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, making derogatory comments about the young boy and trivializing the harmful and discriminatory nature of his actions. The teenager's identity is protected in the lawsuit and he is referred to only by his initials.

According to the suit, the paraprofessional did not have access to the key for the cage where the athletic equipment was stored and had to seek help from other district staff to open the door and release the teenager. The duration of time that he was trapped in the cage remains unclear.

The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff, and the school district as defendants. The district, which has an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles northwest of Topeka, has not yet responded to the allegations or appointed attorneys for their defense.

The lawsuit further alleges that the mistreatment the teenager endured stemmed from either no behavior issues or minor ones related to his disability. The paraprofessional is also accused of subjecting the teenager to emotional abuse by verbally belittling him on a daily basis and physically assaulting him by pulling on his shirt collar or striking him in the neck and face.

The suit states that the paraprofessional would often leave the teenager in soiled clothing for extended periods of time and deny him food during lunch. While some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher overseeing the paraprofessional and the district's special education director, the lawsuit claims that no action was taken and previous complaints about the paraprofessional's treatment of disabled students were also ignored.

According to the suit, defendants within the district justified their treatment of the teenager as "tough love" and argued that it was the appropriate way to handle him. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency, although the parents eventually raised their concerns and a district employee reported them, citing issues of abuse and neglect.

At present, no criminal charges have been filed against the paraprofessional or any of the employees mentioned in the lawsuit, and there are no records of disciplinary actions against staff members in the state education department database. The lawsuit claims that the teenager's behavior has significantly deteriorated, resulting in fear-driven refusal to leave his home, loss of speech, and increased self-harming behavior.

The allegations made in this lawsuit highlight serious concerns regarding the treatment of disabled students in the Kaw Valley district. As the case moves forward, it remains to be seen how the district, and those involved, will respond to these disturbing accusations.