Matthew Daetz News Today

Three weeks. but by then, school has started, and all of these children are losing time being integrated in school, like will, and were watching wills brother coming home every day. >> that time is so precious. judy, matthew, thank you both. meanwhile in texas, the cdc reports covid hospitalizations are up by more than 30% since last week. and health care workers are pleading for a mask mandate. >> our team lost a 43-year-old man. within an hour, his 37-year-old wife passed away from covid, le...

The department of education says it will pay the salaries of florida school board members if the state makes good on its promise to defund districts that defy the governors order. which brings us to a woman named judy hayes, one of the dozen parents suing floridas governor, saying their children with disabilities need a mask mandate to stay safe in school. hayes lives in orange county and her 10-year-old son, will, has down syndrome, as well as other underlying health conditions. judy hayes join...

President say that were heroes, i cant even put into words how much i appreciate hearing that from our leaders, knowing that hes on our side, his wife is an educator. i feel like they get us and theyre in this fight with us. and im hopeful well get somewhere. >> matthew, how soon could this lawsuit change the situation in florida schools? >> well, currently were waiting on the governor to give a response, and the governors response is due on the 24th. but were also reaching out to the department...

Not optimal for him or anybody else. >> matthew, take us really big picture here. whats at stake in terms of disabled childrens right to an education? >> well, the a.d.a. and section 504 actually guarantees these children a right to go to school and to go to school in a safe environment. while you can do something so easy as to put on a mask to secure the health of kids like will and kids who have asthma and other disabilities that they would be in danger of getting sick or even dying, were real...

With disabilities need a mask mandate to stay safe in school. she lives in orange county and her 10-year-old son, will, has down syndrome as well as underlying health conditions. judy hayes joins me along with her attorney, matthew daetz. how is your kids first week of school? >> thank you very much, alicia. so my 13-year-old had a great first week. hes in eighth grade and shes super excited to be back and to see his friends and just to get back into the classroom. hes taking fun classes, so hes...

Others understand why remote learning isnt sustainable for will? >> for kids like will, a lot of times theyll have a paraprofessional with him to sit there and help him find the right workbook page, make sure that hes staying on track and when theyre using computers, to make sure he doesnt close out the zoom before its time he relies on that support. but when hes at home during that virtually, that support persons me, and that means, a, i cant work, and b, i have to step into the role of teacher...

>> right matthew, how soon could this lawsuit change the situation in florida schools? >> well, currently were waiting on the governor to give a response, and the governors response is due on the 24th. but were also reaching out to the department of education and the department of justice. they are the enforcing authorities when it comes to a law like the a.d.a. and section 504, and they have the obligation not only to and in compensate superintendents for doing the right thing, but also saying ...