A Clark County School District aide has been arrested after police say she pinched a nonverbal student with Down syndrome at Dr. Claude G. Perkins Elementary in North Las Vegas. The alleged incident happened April 24 during dismissal for special education students, and the employee, identified by authorities as 65-year-old Lisa Harris, was taken into custody following a district investigation. She posted bail and is due back in court on May 28.
According to an arrest report, Clark County School District police say the investigation began April 27. The report describes Harris "leaning in close" and reaching under the student's right armpit, after which the child reacted in a way officers characterized as a pain response. The student had reportedly refused to put on his shoes before the interaction, and his mother later told police she found bruising under his arm. Court records show Harris posted a $7,000 bond and made an initial court appearance on April 28.
How nonverbal children show distress
La'Quinta Hampton, a licensed clinical social worker, told reporters in a segment on nonverbal children and trauma that students who do not use spoken language often communicate through body language, play and art instead. She said caregivers and school staff need to stay alert to subtle cues. "It's about the mindfulness," Hampton explained, adding that learning to read gestures, facial expressions and activity-based signals can help prevent misunderstandings that might otherwise escalate.
Trauma responses can look different in children with IDD
National experts note that children with intellectual and developmental disabilities may show the effects of trauma through shifts in behavior, sleep, appetite or play rather than through verbal complaints, which can make problems harder to spot for busy school teams. As outlined by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, schools can turn to trauma-informed toolkits designed specifically for children with IDD to better recognize and respond to these signs.
District response and local context
The Clark County School District has placed Harris on unpaid leave while the case moves forward, and officials say the arrest followed an internal investigation. The incident has renewed scrutiny over how staff who work with highly vulnerable students are supervised. Earlier this spring, another valley school employee was arrested on child-abuse related charges, as reported by FOX5.
What families and advocates want
Parents and disability advocates say the case underscores the need for thorough training in trauma-informed care, stronger communication supports and clear reporting channels for suspected abuse. They also point to augmentative and alternative communication tools and visual supports as critical so nonverbal students can indicate discomfort or refusal without a situation boiling over, a point underscored in guidance from the National Down Syndrome Society.
Legal next steps
Harris faces abuse and battery allegations and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 28. Prosecutors will decide how to proceed as the investigation continues. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact local law enforcement or the Clark County School District's investigative office.
