A special education teacher on Long Island allegedly tied a nonverbal, autistic teen to a chair with a piece of rope, leaving the boy terrified to return to class. The incident occurred at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, where the student went for special instruction on Thursdays. The boy’s father, Carlos Diaz, is desperate for answers and wonders why his son was tied up by a teacher who should have been aware of his autism. Diaz is seeking answers and is confused as to why the school district waited over 24 hours to inform him and others about the incident.
The teacher accused of tying down the student, William Buith, is a track coach who allegedly bound the teenager without a clear reason. It is unclear how long the student remained tied up before being discovered. The incident was reported to the Nassau County Police Department and the boy’s father the next day by the school. Diaz questions the delay in informing him and believes the lack of immediate action shows a lack of care on the part of the school district.
Diaz intends to sue both high schools his son attends, as well as the Sewanhaka Central School District, for $3 million in damages. The notice of claim filed by Diaz alleges that the student was assaulted, harassed, abused, and tied to a chair by Buith, a special needs student teacher. The school district’s interim superintendent, Dr. Thomas Dolan, has stated that an investigation was promptly conducted after the incident was reported. Buith was removed from the classroom and authorities were contacted, including the police and the Department of Education.
Despite being informed that Buith had been suspended, Diaz feels that the district is not taking the incident seriously enough. The boy did not sustain any physical injuries during the incident, according to the police report. After a two-week break, the student returned to school, seemingly without any visible harm. Buith, who also coaches cross-country and track & field, has not responded to requests for comment on the incident from various media outlets. Diaz and his attorney are seeking answers and planning to hold those responsible for the incident accountable through legal action.
The incident involving the special education teacher tying an autistic student to a chair has left the boy scared to return to school. Diaz, the student’s father, is determined to obtain answers and has initiated legal action against the involved schools and the school district. The district has indicated that they are investigating the matter and have taken appropriate disciplinary action against the accused teacher. The lack of immediate notification to Diaz and the delay in getting information from the school district have left him feeling that the incident is not being handled with the seriousness it deserves. The boy appears to have physically recovered from the incident and has resumed attending school.
