On Monday, April 22nd, the attorneys of Disparti Law Group filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County against Chicago Public Schools, Sullivan High School, and some of its staff/administrators, alleging a child with Autism was sexually abused in a school bathroom.
“This child was entrusted to the school by their parents, as every parent does with the expectation that their child will be safe, supervised, and treated with care and dignity,” says Larry Disparti, founder of Disparti Law Group.
Cass T. Casper, lead counsel on the case, noted, “the victim was supposed to have an adult present with him at all times. Chicago Public Schools failed to abide by that element of his individualized education plan. He walked by himself from his 10th-grade classroom into a bathroom at Sullivan High School, where he was viciously sexually assaulted.”
More than 323,000 students attend Chicago Public Schools. In fiscal year 2024, 469 cases of sexual abuse were referred to the CPS Sexual Allegation Unit, which investigates allegations of sexual abuse against teachers and staff. The Office of Student Protection/Title XI, which investigates reports of student-on-student sexual abuse, was unavailable to provide their numbers. Sexual abuse in our school system has become an epidemic.
Sullivan High School, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, has more than 700 students. More than 20% of those students have an individualized education plan (IEP), which requires that they receive specific accommodations or modifications to their learning environment. Part of this student’s IEP required that the student have staff supervision the entire day.
Disparti continued, “this child endured a traumatic assault – an assault that was entirely preventable. The school failed to act – and it failed in its fundamental duty: to protect the children in its care.”
The child, whose name is being withheld to protect their identity, was represented by their mother, father and sister – each donning a colorful Autism Awareness pin made by the victim’s sister. She spoke out of concern for her brother and so that, “this never happens to another child. I don’t wish this on any other family.”
The lawsuit seeks justice, not only for this young survivor, but to continue to shine a light on systematic failures that continue to put children at risk. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Disparti Law Group has filed sexual abuse lawsuits on behalf of students. As Disparti concluded, “we can do better, we need to do better for our children.”
Disparti Law has set up a special website (www.dispartilaw.com/sexual-abuse) and a confidential, private, hotline for those who believe that they have been a victim of sexual abuse. Victims can call (312) 506-1235 to speak directly with a specially-trained attorney.
Media Coverage:
- CPS student with autism sexually assaulted by another student at North Side HS: lawsuit (ABC 7 Chicago)
- Chicago Public Schools failed to protect student with disability from sexual assault: lawsuit (Fox 32 Chicago)
- Lawsuit says student with special needs was sexually assaulted at Chicago school (CBS 2 Chicago)
- Chicago Public Schools sued by family of teen with autism, alleging sexual assault (NBC 5 Chicago)
- Family of teen with autism sues Chicago Public Schools, alleges sexual assault in bathroom (Chicago Sun-Times)
