“This is every parent’s nightmare,” an attorney representing the boy’s family stated
NEED TO KNOW
- A lawsuit was filed against against the Ontario-Montclair School District, alleging that a 4-year-old boy with autism almost drowned at a school pool after he was left unattended
- As a result of the incident, the complaint alleged, the boy has post-traumatic stress disorder and is afraid of bath time
- A spokesperson for the district told The Los Angeles Times it cannot comment on pending litigation
The family of a non-verbal toddler with autism is suing a California school district after he was found facedown in a school pool when he was allegedly left unattended by staff.
According to the complaint filed on Wednesday, April 8, in California Superior Court, San Bernardino, against the Ontario-Montclair School District, the 4-year-old boy — identified in the court document as J.M. — nearly drowned on Dec. 12, 2025 at Lincoln Elementary.
The complaint, which PEOPLE obtained, alleged that school district staff abandoned J.M. next to two recreational pools for almost 10 minutes, which was in violation of the boy’s individualized education plan (IEP)…