The family of a former Hamilton County student is questioning the qualifications of the school system’s consultant on intellectual disabilities.
During Thursday’s civil trial between the Hamilton County Department of Education and the family of Luka Hyde, attorney Justin Gilbert argued in U.S. District Court that Dr. Susan Kabot is an expert on children with autism, not Down syndrome. The school system used Kabot’s analysis of Luka in 2013 to justify its decision to move him away from a general education classroom.
Luka, who has Down syndrome, was in second grade at Normal Park Museum Magnet at the time. On the recommendation of teachers and administrators, Luka was supposed to move to Red Bank Elementary Comprehensive Development Classroom, a program for children with more intensive needs. He would have been separated from general education students for about half of the day.
Instead, Deborah and Greg Hyde sold their house to enroll Luka in the Montessori School, where they said their son is thriving academically and behaviorally. And after they lost a due process hearing against the school system in 2013, the Hydes filed lawsuits against the Hamilton County Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Education, arguing officials subjected Luka to “illegal segregation” that would not prepare him for life as an adult.
The state agency settled with the Hydes for $185,000 in November after a judge ruled the Tennessee Department of Education did not have an adequate administrative complaint process for parents, a violation of federal law.