El Dorado High School senior Jay Byrd felt overwhelmed as the cacophony of student chatter, crowded hallways and piercing bright fluorescent lights of her school overcame her senses.
The 17-year-old Socorro Independent School District student, who says she has post-traumatic stress disorder, said she was used to going to her school’s counselor any time she experienced sensory issues or felt overstimulated in class.
That was until last month, when Jay’s school counselor told her a new law that took effect Sept. 1 prevented her from providing mental health services without first getting a signed permission slip from her parents…