A local mother was in tears after her disabled daughter was not allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. Carla Lee, whose daughter is a 2024 graduate at Greenfield High School, took to Facebook after Friday night’s graduation ceremony where she alleged that her daughter, who suffers from a disability, and two other students were forced to sit in the bleachers on the sidelines instead of participating in their High School graduation normally.
More than 60 people contacted the media with concerns regarding how the ceremony was handled, sharing outrage at the situation and support of the students involved, even creating an online petition calling for the termination of Greenfield principal Jamie Doster. The petition can be found at www.change.org and has received approximately 1,310 signatures as of press time.
Kennedy Lee, one of the students who sat in the sidelines, has a disability called “POTS” which is a form of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system’s ability to regulate heart rate. With POTS, the body is not able to keep heart rate at steady and stable levels. POTS is considered a disability by the SSA, but according to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), POTS disability is not specified in the list of disabling medical conditions, however If the condition substantially limits abilities, a person would also be protected from discrimination under the ADA2. Lee, along with another student present, both suffer from POTS. The third student and their family have not responded for comment at this time.
“I received a call from Jamie Doster on Tuesday, May 14 informing me that both students with POTS would have to use a wheelchair during the ceremony. They would not be allowed to walk in their graduation like everyone else due to ‘safety concerns’,” Lee’s mother, Carla stated.
Carla immediately started fighting against it stating that the girls deserved to walk just like every other student. Carla stated that she would sign whatever the school needed her to to waive liability and even brought a note from Kennedy’s Doctor stating that she was able to participate in the ceremony regularly.
“I received a second call from Mrs. Jamie a couple hours later stating that they could walk but only to a prepared spot in the bleachers away from their class, with their families behind them, where they would remain during the ceremony. They would be allowed to walk up and receive their diploma escorted by a nurse. She told me that she couldn’t have them on the floor because if they passed out it would disrupt the ceremony and that she would have to have a man come and carry them off the floor,” Carla stated.
Carla then moved on to Superintendent of Weakley County School’s Jeff Cupples who reportedly told her that he saw both sides of the issue and that everything should be done to preserve their experience, however, according to Carla, nothing changed and the girls were still made to sit in the bleachers.
Carla went with Kennedy to speak to Doster a second time, hoping that her daughter could explain her feelings about the situation better than she could.
“Kennedy explained to her that they have been singled out their entire high school career and she just wanted one night to be normal. To be with her class and walk like everyone else. She told her that it would be embarrassing to her and the other girl to be singled out and put to the side,” Carla said.
Even though both girls performed flawlessly at graduation practice, according to Carla, they were still made to be separated from their class where they sat through the entire event without one incident according to both Carla and numerous other people who attended.
“This did not have to happen this way. These girls are amazing young women who deserved to have their moment to be celebrated just like everyone else. Instead they were hidden to the side so that they wouldn't embarrass someone if they had an issue due to a disorder that isn't their fault. No amount of fighting or proof would have changed Doster’s mind,” Carla said.
“My heart hurts for these girls and their experience for what should have been the biggest night of their life. Walking at graduation is something that is fiercely fought for all the time. There are times when it's celebrated for a disabled person to walk across the stage to receive their diploma,” Carla said.
The community responded to Lee’s Facebook post with outrage. Many called for both Doster’s and Cupples resignation, encouraging the parents of students to take action against the school district via a lawsuit, as well as showing support and encouragement for the student’s affected by the situation. Lee’s Facebook post is public and can be viewed on the social media website.
Carla’s initial Facebook post regarding the incident has been shared over 400 times and has garnered almost 100 comments thus far with people in the community expressing their outrage at the situation.
According to WBBJ, the school system’s response to them was, ““All of Weakley County Schools’ graduation ceremonies are planned to ensure the safety of all participants. Additionally, upholding student privacy and confidentiality is a fundamental priority and responsibility of our district. While we respect public interest, privacy and confidentiality precludes discussion of personal information about students.”
Neither Doster nor Cupples have responded to the media for comment as of press time