Parents in Maine are asking a federal court on First Amendment grounds to allow their son who has disabilities to carry a recording device during school.
Ben Pollack, 17, has autism and a rare neurological syndrome that leaves him largely unable to speak and with a limited ability to process language. He attends special education classes in School Administrative District 75 in Topsham. His parents, Matt Pollack and Jane Quiron, say a recording device would give them insight into the school days of their son, as well as a better ability to determine how his education is proceeding.
The district argues that allowing Ben to carry a recording device would violate the rights and threaten the confidentiality of teachers and other students.
The national American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Maine, both of which are supporting the lawsuit, say they don’t know of any other case that has asserted a First Amendment right to record a school day.
