Julie Staadecker enrolled her 3-year-old son in Early Steps Early Childhood Center in Watertown in 2022.

“My son was excited to start school and be a big kid,” said Staadecker.

Her son Cameron has autism, and the preschool offered all his necessary services in one place. But for seven months, Staadecker says the place meant to support him, failed.

A teacher’s aide reported teacher Maureen Connolly for mistreating Cameron and other students in March 2023.

The state’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) investigated and found the claims were true.

“The teacher called Cam stupid and dumb and disgusting so often in front of the other kids in his class, sorry that one is still hard to say, that the other kids started to repeat those names to him too,” Staadecker revealed. “I’m

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