September 07, 2009 

By Sharon Boyd-Age of Autism 

Abuse complaints about Diana O’Neil, a special education teacher at Venice Elementary School in Sarasota County Florida, appeared as early as the 2001/2002 school year although her record does not reflect this. More allegations surfaced in January 2007. The current Principal, Theresa Baus spoke with O’Neill about the parents concerns in October  after aides in her classroom came forward to Baus expressing their concern for the children.  During O’Neil’s trial for abuse of her students, Principal Baus testified that she “spoke directly with Mrs. O’Neill and stated, “…that she was not to hit my children or hurt them or treat them roughly in any way”. The problem is that Principal Baus did not write this down as a Formal Verbal Warning. Her failure to do so was one of several missteps that have left special needs children in Sarasota, Florida vulnerable to continued abuse in their classroom......

To read the entire article go to: 

http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/09/is-diana-oneill-autisms-oj-the-teacher-abuse-case-in-sarasota.html