Written by: Sam Orlando
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - Teranesha Taylor, a former Speech Language Pathologist at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC (CARD), has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation within CARD's school operations. This action cites violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law.
Taylor, a resident of Arlington, Virginia, claims that her employment experience at CARD's Alexandria facility was marred by discriminatory treatment based on her race. Her supervisors, Mary Ann Cassell and Chelsea Brutin, allegedly segregated her from white staff and denied her equal access to facilities and meetings. Taylor describes an incident where she and another Black SLP were moved from their office, further alleging a pattern of unequal treatment compared to white colleagues.
Additionally, Taylor alleges retaliation following her reports of child abuse at CARD, as mandated by Virginia law. Despite her positive performance feedback and success in her role, Taylor contends that her efforts to address these issues were met with punitive actions, leading to a hostile work environment and her eventual constructive termination.
Taylor's complaint vividly details the psychological impact of these experiences, including emotional distress and the need for psychiatric treatment. She seeks declaratory and monetary relief for damages endured due to the alleged discrimination and retaliation at CARD.
This lawsuit raises critical issues of racial discrimination and whistleblower treatment in educational settings for children with autism, spotlighting broader concerns in the realm of workplace equality and ethics in specialized education.
Stay tuned to Breaking Through News for more updates on this developing story.
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