Student with special needs isolated from classmates during concert, parents say

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Parents of a girl with special needs are upset after they said the student sat in isolation during a school concert.

During the May 4th recital, 8th grader Nyla Elliot sat all alone while her classmates were on one side of her, and 7th grade students on the other side.

Nyla Elliot’s parents said she has apraxia of speech, which makes it difficult to communicate, but they said she loves to sing.

The experience left the girl embarrassed, her parents said.

School officials have apologized, but her parents still want them to explain what happened.

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School officials told Channel 2 they are still investigating the incident, but from what they have been able to gather, they said the isolation was not intentional.

“It’s probably one of the most painful things I experienced,” Wesley Elliot said.

Wesley Elliot said raising his special needs daughter Nyla is challenging at times, but her personality makes it easier.

Singing in the Ola Middle School chorus in McDonough makes Nyla happy, but at last Thursday’s recital, she wasn’t very happy.

Her mother was too upset to confront school officials that night, and her father was at work.

Wesley Elliot said his daughter told him that someone made her sit by herself until it was her turn to join the rest of the kids. He said he could not get a straight answer from school officials as to who made his daughter sit in isolation.

The father also cannot figure out why none of the teachers did anything about it.

School officials sent Channel 2 the following statement:

"We are unsure at this time as to why the student was sitting in that particular spot during the gap between participating with the rest of the chorus. It is highly unfortunate, but based on the limited information we have been able to ascertain, this was not intentional."

Nyla Elliot still wants to be involved in the school chorus, and her parents said singing with her classmates makes her feel like she is just like the rest of the kids.

Cox Media Group