Tay'Shawn Landry: Mom of ninth-grader with cerebral palsy slams bullies for mocking wheelchair-bound son
ABBEVILLE, LOUISIANA: Kimberly Mitchell, the mother of ninth-grade student Tay’Shawn Landry who was born with cerebral palsy, was left outraged after "a senior prank" at Abbeville High School made fun of her son. She posted videos of the bully on Facebook showing the students recording videos in the halls of the school and using her son’s personal wheelchair on campus. They were also seen making fun of his slurred speech.
Mitchell wrote, "Sr Pranks are fun and all but when you make fun of my disabled kid and his belongings then IT BECOMES MY PROBLEM! I don’t care who’s parents get upset but there will be consequences. I SAID WHAT I SAID! Y’all played with the wrong child & THE WRONG MAMA." Many were quick to react watching the videos. One wrote, "This is what we've allowed our small town culture to become. No integrity, no dignity, no self respect. Kudos to all the parents instilling principles in their children because this ain't it. Also, how can you hold children accountable when their so-called adult parents aren't even accountable. Children emulate the culture they are exposed to. Why is our standard so low level? What will these children's future be like? And their children after?"
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'Disheartened that this is what our youth resorts to for fun'
One of the school's alumnus commented, "This is disturbing on so many levels. The audacity to lay a hand on expensive equipment that allows a person the mobility others take for granted. The disrespect of disgracing school property that so many feel fortunate & proud to have attended. The disgusting comfort in videoing the actions as though an accomplishment. The disregard in the realization that someone has to clean up that mess. The lack of respecting the property of others. The absence of self-respect & integrity by tainting a 12 year achieved milestone (Graduation) for a moment of mayhem. The question of, 'Is this what enters the productive, adult world?' I am saddened for any child or parent hurt by this & disheartened that THIS is what our youth resorts to for fun."
Another wrote, "As a part of AHS Alumni I’m not happy. We can be better because we know better. From here what we all need to do is impute positivity into each child and parent and siblings n friends alike to all involved because we know better and we can do better because some expect us not to be better."
Mother of one of the bullies speaks out
A mother of one of the students, who was seen mocking Landry, wrote, "Well as his mama I’m here for the comment and I definitely know that he is not making fun of your son and as his mother I’m not going to allow anyone to bash him or make this a dislike issue because he is way better that that trust me if there is a problem I’m not trying to make what ever you feel better but truly I saw the video and I talk to him it was a prank used with tashawn wheelchair but never to make fun of him and I’m always available for conversation and he definitely will be present if u need to know what it was about."
Mitchell replied, "I said what I said. I’m not bashing anyone. At the end of the day he’s my son and that’s his belongings NOT YOURS. You can say what you want but everyone knows that’s how my son sits and ride in his chair. Ever thought about how my child felt when he saw this bs? NO! All y’all too busy worrying about a face being showed. Now I’m not going back and for."
One pointed, "What took place was no Sr prank!!!! It was no tradition!!!! It was disgraceful!!!! I have been in that school going on 15 yrs and never has that occurred until the last three years. It is appalling!!!!"
'Let them see how it is to be on that floor'
Marilyn, Landry's grandmother, said, “His ambulation is horrible. He never stood. He had never walked in his life. He has been crawling, and then after the month of the surgery, he was trying to ambulate. Now he has scoliosis making it even harder for him to move around. Let them see how it is to be on that floor on that cement going back and forth. Just how they were riding and closing whatever. See that pain. See the agony. See the frustration of disability people.”
Landry's other grandmother, Clarice, said that she was worried about his mental health. She expressed, “With doing something like this, a prank of this nature, his mentality status. In the time frame of them doing this to Tay’Shawn and all what he has been through can play a role in his mental status. With everything that’s going on in the world today with the kids, we don’t know how it’s going to affect him in the long term.”
'I was upset. I was mad. I was crying'
Landry told KFLY, “I was upset. I was mad. I was crying. I tried to stop myself from crying because I wanted to go to school. [I] couldn’t. I was just upset. Some people that I know. Some people that I go to school with and they want to turn their back on me and do this; that is not acceptable.”
Vermilion Parish School Board Superintendent Tommy Byler responded to the incident. In a statement, he wrote, "Upon arrival, central office officials questioned students and were handed over two keys given to the students by a school employee. At this time, this incident is still under an internal investigation and necessary disciplinary actions could result from the outcome of this investigation."
Byler added, "The Vermilion Parish School System has been in contact with the company that partners with the school to ensure that the chair was not damaged in any way that would jeopardize the effectiveness of its use for the AHS student. The school board will seek damages from those who have accessed the chair in a non-prescribed manner if it becomes necessary. School officials are still investigating the situation and any disciplinary actions against students and or faculty are confidential."
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