Plano ISD teenager with special needs experienced physical mistreatment, family alleges

Overview

A Plano ISD family alleges that their 19‑year‑old daughter with significant disabilities was physically mistreated by a staff member at Plano Senior High School. The incident has prompted both a police investigation and calls from the family for accountability within the district.

Student and her condition

The student, 19‑year‑old Saniyah Reese, is nonverbal and has severe disabilities that require full‑time assistance. Her mother, Lestia Nelson, says Saniyah needs help with all aspects of daily care, including feeding, personal care and mobility.

Early warning signs at school

Nelson recounts that earlier in the school year she began noticing troubling changes when Saniyah returned home from school. She describes severe diaper rash that was sometimes bleeding and says she repeatedly asked school staff to change her daughter more frequently. She also says Saniyah was placed on a liquid diet without her consent, after which the teen lost a noticeable amount of weight.

Use of audio and video evidence

Concerned about what might be happening in the classroom, Nelson says she asked her daughter for permission to place an audio recorder in Saniyah’s backpack. After doing so, she later listened to a recording from January 8 and heard her daughter crying, which she describes as unusual for Saniyah. Nelson then sought access to school video from that day and says that when she finally received it, she observed actions by a teacher that deeply alarmed her.

Alleged physical mistreatment

According to the family, the classroom video shows an educator handling Saniyah in a rough and inappropriate manner. Nelson alleges that the teacher pulled or pushed Saniyah by the neck, forced her head downward, bent her fingers backward and otherwise treated her in a way that caused her daughter obvious distress. Family members say each viewing of the footage reveals additional behavior they believe to be improper.

Medical follow‑up and impact

After reviewing the video and hearing the recording, Nelson took Saniyah to a doctor for an evaluation. The physician documented a decreased range of motion in Saniyah’s neck following the incident. Nelson says that, since then, her daughter has not returned to school, and the family remains focused on her physical and emotional recovery.

District and police response

Plano ISD has stated through a spokesperson that it is aware of the allegations and that appropriate reports have been made to relevant agencies as required by law. Plano police have confirmed that they are investigating the matter involving the special needs student and the staff member. The district has not publicly disclosed specific disciplinary measures, citing ongoing processes.

Family’s demands and advocacy

Nelson and her family are calling for stronger accountability from both the school and the district. They have shared their concerns and experiences on social media, describing a pattern of neglect and mistreatment of Saniyah. Nelson says she wants criminal charges pursued and insists she will continue to fight for her daughter’s safety and dignity.

Broader concerns about special education

The family’s accusations have raised broader questions about how students with significant disabilities are supervised and cared for in public schools. Advocates point to this case as an example of why more training, transparency and oversight are needed in special education programs. The case has also sparked discussion in the community about supporting nonverbal students who may be unable to report abuse themselves.

“I’m a fighter and I’m going to fight for Saniyah until everything is right,” Nelson says, emphasizing her determination to seek justice for her daughter.

Author’s summary: A mother accuses a Plano ISD teacher of physically abusing her severely disabled, nonverbal daughter, sparking a police probe and intensifying public scrutiny of special‑education safeguards.

The Dallas Morning News on MSN — 2025-11-26