An 11-year-old boy with Tourette's Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was expelled from a private school in Fortaleza, leading the Ceará Public Prosecutor's Office to intervene and demand his reinstatement.
An 11-year-old boy diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) faced expulsion from his private school in the Cidade dos Funcionários neighborhood of Fortaleza. This incident has prompted the Ceará Public Prosecutor's Office to take legal action against the school, seeking to have the child reinstated immediately. They have warned that failure to comply with this order may result in a fine for the institution.
The expulsion occurred in October 2025 after the child exhibited episodes of emotional dysregulation, which are symptoms associated with his clinical diagnoses. Prior to his expulsion, the boy had been subjected to a punitive disciplinary regime that disregarded his neurodivergent condition. The Public Prosecutor's Office emphasizes that the school had been aware of the student's condition since December 2024, when a technical report confirming the diagnosis was provided to them, yet they failed to develop an appropriate educational plan to support him.
This case highlights significant issues regarding the treatment of students with neurodivergent conditions in educational institutions. It raises questions about the responsibilities of schools to accommodate and support children with disabilities, as mandated by law, and the consequences they may face for failing to do so. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for similar cases across Brazil, potentially prompting changes in how schools manage students with special needs.
