Amicus brief filed in Northwest SOIL case
AFER filed an amicus brief in support of the Seattle Times’ public records lawsuit against Northwest SOIL, a nonpublic agency serving special education students in Washington under fire for abusive practices against the children in its care. The parent company owning Northwest SOIL (which has now since closed), appealed the court order and is seeking to hide Northwest SOIL’s records from public scrutiny. AFER filed its brief in Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals, shining a light on the disproportionality of students of color and low income students placed in segregated special education placements, the importance of IDEA-mandated oversight and public records in enforcing the civil rights of students, and the particular need for transparency with regards to restraint and isolation at schools such as Northwest SOIL. The brief referenced the 2022 report on restraint and isolation and joint investigation by Disability Rights Washington and the ACLU of Washington, co-authored by AFER board member Andrea Kadlec: “Coming Into the Light.”
The amicus brief was authored by AFER members Nicholle Mineiro, Kerri Feeney, Andrea Kadlec, Danielle Dallas, and Sara Zier.
Read more here:
Washington School for Students with Disabilities Faces State Ban, including coverage of Seattle Times lawsuit
At Washington State Special Education Schools, Years of Abuse Complaints and Lack of Academics
Washington State Launches Investigation of Private Special Education Schools