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Parents demand answers after disabled child breaks leg at school

7 years 4 months 4 days ago Tuesday, November 22 2016 Nov 22, 2016 November 22, 2016 5:36 PM November 22, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

GONZALES- The parents of a disabled child are demanding answers over her injury. She fell at East Ascension High School this month and broke her leg. Her parents claim they were not notified of the incident.

The school system confirmed there was an accident at East Ascension High School this month, but didn't say much else. When the child couldn't get off the bus without assistance, her dad rushed her to the hospital.

Bridgette Wells' smile can light up any room. Among her favorite hobbies, cheering on her beloved Tigers.

"LSU!" Bridgette said.

But, this month, her father knew something was awry when Bridgette's smile and contagious laugh turned to a frown and a moan.

"The bus pulled up and I knew something was wrong because she hollered 'Daddy'," Wells said. "Did her little hand motion and she was sitting on the top step."

When Wells couldn't get down the bus steps, he immediately knew something wasn't right with his daughter.

"I ran to see what was going on, the bus driver... I asked what happened...and the bus driver said Mr. Wells they didn't call you? She fell at school," Wells said.

Wells said a piece of paperwork was in his daugther's backpack. It shows the child twisted her ankle and fell while she was with a teacher's aide.

"I immediately put her in the truck rushed her to the emergency room and they said she broke her lateral bone completely in half going to the ankle," Wells said.

The Ascension Parish School System confirmed there was an incident report filed over this matter. Even though we talked to Wells' father, the system declined to do an interview because this matter involves a student.

"I called the principal and asked what happened to my daughter," Wells said. "He's like she fell.. I said well why didn't I get notified? The teacher didn't call you? I said no sir."

That's why Wells is furious. He says his daughter can't speak in sentences and is not capable of explaining everything that happened to her. Because of that, he believes it was the duty of the administrators to let him know about it.

"The principal told me she (the teacher) should have contacted me, those were his exact words," Wells said. "The teacher said she sent me a text but I never got a text. I got a text after I text her....When I asked her what happened to Bridgette?"

Tonight, Wells is calling for changes to make sure disabled children like his beloved daughter have a voice.

"A telephone call is for emergencies, not texts," Wells said. "Don't send me no text if my child is hurt. You call me. That's all I want."

In an email today the school system said that WBRZ could get the incident report that was filed following the fall. But we would not have access to it until next Monday since schools are out the rest of the week. The school system also claims the child's parents were contacted, but it's unclear if the school system actually spoke to someone.

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