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The Cuban Viena García has been experiencing moments of distress since her 11-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with autism, fell victim to a serious violation of his privacy at Ponce de León Middle School in Coral Gables on February 27th.
"My son started waking up in the middle of the night. When I asked him if he was having nightmares, he replied: 'about the boy in the bathroom'", García reported in statements to Telemundo 51.
The incident that triggered the trauma occurred when the minor was using the school bathroom, and an eighth-grade student, aged 13, recorded the child while he was attending to his needs, capturing intimate parts of his body without his consent or knowledge.
"This student was fully aware that my son has a special condition. Not only did he record him from behind while he was in the restroom with his pants down, but he also posted that content on social media," the outraged mother reported.
What increases the family's outrage is the apparent lack of immediate action on the part of the educational authorities.
According to García, although the school's administration was alerted by two other students about what had happened, the measures taken proved to be insufficient.
"Constantly, I was told 'trust us, we are working on it,' but something told me that nothing significant was going to happen," the mother complained, who believes that an act of such magnitude should have resulted in an "immediate expulsion" of the responsible party.
Given what she deemed an inadequate response from the educational institution, Viena García decided to file a formal complaint against the student who allegedly assaulted her son, a minor with autism.
"I reported it because I am concerned that this behavior may be recurring. I don't know if my son happened to be the first victim or if this student has done something similar before," García explained.
As a result of the report, the 13-year-old teenager now faces charges of voyeurism, according to official documents provided by the prosecutor's office.
A hearing on the case is scheduled for the end of this month.
Emotional impact on the victim
The incident has had a significant psychological impact on the child, who is experiencing sleep disturbances and a marked change in his usual behavior. According to his mother, these symptoms reflect a deep emotional damage that has yet to be fully addressed.
Experts in child psychology warn that such situations can be particularly devastating for minors on the autism spectrum.
They often have greater difficulties processing traumatic events and expressing what has happened emotionally, which exacerbates the consequences of harassment.
Institutional reaction and criticism
The Miami-Dade School District, for its part, issued a brief statement indicating that it is "aware of the incident," but declined to provide further comments, citing "pending litigation" related to the case.
This stance has raised questions within the educational community regarding the protocols for prevention and response to cases of bullying, particularly when it involves students with special needs who require additional protection.
The case has reignited the debate on the need to strengthen policies against bullying. Among the proposals are increased supervision in vulnerable areas such as school bathrooms, and mandatory training for teaching and administrative staff to respond appropriately to situations involving students with disabilities.
Organizations advocating for the rights of people with disabilities have expressed their concern, warning that incidents like this highlight the extreme vulnerability of children with special needs in environments that should prioritize their safety, inclusion, and dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions about the voyeurism case in a Miami-Dade school
What happened in the voyeurism case at the Miami-Dade school?
An 11-year-old boy with autism was recorded without his consent by an eighth-grade student while using the bathroom at Ponce de León Middle School in Coral Gables. The video was uploaded to social media, violating the minor's privacy.
How has the mother of the affected minor reacted?
The mother of the child, Viena García, expressed her indignation and filed a formal complaint against the student who recorded her son. She criticizes the lack of immediate action from the school authorities and believes that the individual responsible should have been expelled from the institution.
What measures have been taken against the person responsible for voyeurism?
The 13-year-old student faces charges of voyeurism, according to court documents. A hearing regarding the case is scheduled for the end of this month, which will determine future legal actions.
How has this incident impacted the minor victim of voyeurism?
The incident has had a significant psychological impact on the child, who is experiencing sleep disturbances and changes in behavior. Experts warn that children with autism may have difficulties processing traumatic events.
What measures does the educational community propose to prevent future incidents of bullying?
The educational community has revitalized the debate on the need to strengthen policies against bullying. Increased supervision in vulnerable areas such as school bathrooms is proposed along with mandatory training for staff to respond appropriately in situations involving students with disabilities.
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