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Parents allege discrimination after Pinellas Park rec center dismisses 7‑year‑old autistic child
Summary
Multiple speakers at the June 1 council meeting alleged that Broadick Recreation Center staff dismissed a seven‑year‑old autistic child, described a hostile May 19 meeting with center managers and HR, and requested records, accountability, and funding for behavior specialists and inclusive training.
Pinellas Park — Several parents and relatives told the City Council on June 1 that Broadick Recreation Center staff dismissed a seven‑year‑old autistic child without appropriate process, and they urged the city to improve training and provide behavior‑support resources at its recreation centers.
Destiny Wise said her son was dismissed from the center’s after‑school and summer‑camp programs on May 19. She said staff told her the child was "not a good fit for your program" and that a meeting about the dismissal “deteriorated into verbal attacks by Rock and Mike,” naming the rec‑center manager and a staff member. Wise said records she later requested were not shared and that staff had not followed through on previously agreed accommodations.
"My son was dismissed from the program due to behavioral challenges, and he was deemed not a good fit for your program," Wise said, asking the city to honor its stated autism‑awareness commitments and to consider additional supports.
Sierra Haynes said she lost a part‑time job at the center after the May 19 actions and questioned whether her nephew’s disability influenced staffing decisions. Barbara Ruml (speaking for her daughter) and Jordan Watson (reading a teacher’s statement) described missed communications, the withholding of incident records and inconsistent incident reports from coaches.
Speakers asked the council to allocate budget or resources for behavior specialists, to require more staff training in de‑escalation and inclusive practices, and to ensure that sensory rooms are staffed appropriately. "If our taxpayer dollars are paying for staff and charitable funds support these centers, why isn't there a budget for a behavior specialist?" Barbara Ruml asked.
Council did not take formal action on these allegations during the meeting. Several speakers named employees and managers (Rock, Mike, Heidi and Kelly in HR) and asked for an investigation and improved procedures; city staff did not announce a specific follow‑up during the public‑comment period recorded in the transcript.
What was requested: parents asked for full disclosure of records related to their child’s attendance and incidents, a review of staff discipline and communication practices, and funding or staffing changes to provide consistent behavior support in city recreation programs.
