Psychic's claim leads to child abuse allegations
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, In the news, Weird but true, Special needs
Just when you think you've heard it all, along comes this story out of Barrie, Ontario in Canada. 38-year-old Colleen Leduc is a single mom working hard to support herself and her 11-year-old autistic daughter, Victoria. Victoria attends Terry Fox Elementary, where she is enrolled in a special education class with five other autistic children. On May 30, one of the educational assistants who works with Victoria made a shocking allegation: the little girl was being sexually abused.Under normal circumstances, the school's decision to call the Children's Aid Society and report this would have been appropriate. However, in this case, the EA's allegations were based solely on the word of a psychic who had never even met the child.
Leduc was shocked when she heard the allegations. "The teacher looked at me and said: 'We have to tell you something. We have to tell you that Victoria's EA went to see a psychic and the psychic asked her if she works with a little girl with the initial V. When the EA said yes, the psychic said, 'Well, you need to know that this girl is being sexually abused by a man between the ages of 23 and 26.'"
To back up the allegations, school officials pointed to Victoria's recent inappropriate sexual behavior in the classroom. Never mind the fact that this type of behavior is common in severely autistic children entering puberty and that other kids in the class were acting similarly. Leduc was told that under the Child and Family Services Act, the school is required to report suspected abuse if there are reasonable grounds. "The principal looks at me and says, 'We've called CAS.' Then I got sick to my stomach," says Leduc.
Fortunately, CAS officials have more sense and immediately dismissed the case. However, Leduc isn't completely satisfied with the resolution and is considering legal action. She assumes this is the end of it, but says she can't be sure. "Unless they take out a Ouija board and decide to do something else. They might want to take out a Ouija board or hold a seance, I'm not sure," says Leduc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin 6-21-2008 @ 5:11PM
Once again...
Chalk up another point for stupid schools.
I'm sorry but a looney like this shouldn't even be allowed into a school building, let alone trying to dictate to the staff something that is based on pure total BS. Instead of calling CAS the principle should have called the police and had the real wacko kicked out.
What a crock of garbage. Anyone else making false allegations like this would be sued and charged without thinking. Yet using it under the pretense of "Psychic" makes it ok? What trash!
Reasonable Grounds??? I think the principle needs to pull his head out of his nether regions and use it. Thank god CAS was able to see through this (And that's not saying much considering some of the total screw ups they've done lately)
Reply
Debbie Morgan 6-22-2008 @ 3:27PM
Justin, I agree with you. When a school is this "loony," as you put it, I wouldn't rule out other bad behavior there at the school. If Victoria were my daughter, I would have her checked out medically. Someone at the school may be a pervert and abusing the fact that these challenged young adults are hormonal. A well placed hidden camera may be a good idea to document activities at the school. I would ere on the side of caution and press to have the school investigated but that's just me. Safety and security are my business.
Justin 6-22-2008 @ 6:26PM
Oh I do agree as a parent if it were my child I would still look into it just to be sure. My bigger beef is more with the school allowing someone like this to just walk in and start barking what should be done, especially when it's something with no foundation. I'd be more angry that they went crazy over something with no "real" basis what so ever.
But no I do agree with you on getting it checked out anyway just to be on the safe side. But I'd also be having a nasty word with the school staff on how someone like this could walk in and just tell them anything to have them react to it.