Family says child with Down syndrome, 11, came home crying after teacher hit her

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The family of an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome says not enough is being done after she was hit at school.

The girl's aunt and legal guardian told Channel 2's Matt Johnson that she's frustrated with the lack of a thorough investigation at the school.

Candise Dorsey said her niece Kalani, 11, who has Down syndrome, hasn't been the same since she came home and said her middle school special-needs teacher hit her.

“She was balled up crying, really wasn’t herself to the point she started vomiting,” Dorsey said. “She did not want to go back to the school.”

Dorsey shared video with Johnson that she recorded Sept. 24 -- the day Kalani came home from Sandtown Middle School with a bruise on her back.

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“I later found out from the doctor that the vomiting was due to the trauma of her being hit,” Dorsey said.

Kalani has a speech deficit but, when her aunt asked if her someone had hit her, she said her teacher's name.

Dorsey said she repeatedly emailed school leaders until they agreed to ask Kalani if anyone had hit her.

“Kalani was shown every single one of her classmates and Kalani was also shown all her teachers. Kalani pointed out to her teacher,” Dorsey said.

Fulton County Schools sent Johnson a statement, saying:

“Fulton County schools always strives to provide an environment for all students that fosters opportunities to learn. We take all allegations seriously and will work with the family toward ensuring that goal in this case.”

The next day, Dorsey said, the district offered to move Kalani to a new school.

“Instead of moving the person who actually assaulted her, they’re moving the person who's innocent. She's the victim in this,” Dorsey said. “There’s been no accountability.”

We are not naming the teacher in question in this story because no charges have been filed against him.

Cox Media Group