13 year old Max Benson, a student diagnosed with autism; lost his life far too soon on November 18, 2018 at the hands of his teachers at Guiding Hands School in El Dorado Hills, California. He was killed by a violent prone restraint that lasted for more than 1 hour and 45 minutes. Guiding Hands teachers held him face down, holding down each of his limbs while a teacher sat on his back. He showed many signs of distress including urinating and vomiting on himself, and biting his lip until unconscious. Max’s offense that cost him his life? Spitting and kicking the wall. 

The people that are responsible for his tragic death are his teacher Kimberly Wohlwend who held him in the restraint, school "nurse" David Chambers who arrived too late to perform effective CPR, and Principal Staranne Meyers and Site Administrator Cindy Keller; owners of the school who directed staff to use prone restraints. In addition to Patrick McGrew, Director of Special Education at Davis Joint Unified School District, who refused to find a program suitable for Max in the district schools. Instead, sending Max to Guiding Hands with no oversight, 40 miles from his Davis home.

Guiding Hands School, Cindy Keller, Staranne Meyers and Kimberly Wohlwend were indicted on felony involuntary manslaughter charges by the El Dorado County District Attorney's office in July of 2022. Max's family has been waiting almost 5 years for the criminal trial to start.

- PLEASE SEE UPDATE BELOW ABOUT THE CRIMINAL TRIAL - 

Time Magazine - School Employees Charged in Autism Death

Other Guiding Hands staff members took part in the restraint that killed Max and performed these restraints frequently on other students as well. These same teachers have faced no charges or consequences and are currently teaching at other schools across California; utilizing these abusive practices as we speak.  Astonishingly, NO teaching credentials have been revoked; including Cindy Keller, Staranne Meyers and Kimberly Wohlwend.

Max is one of the many student victims of traumatic abuse at Guiding Hands School’s school. He is however, the only one who lost his life because of it. Other Guiding Hands students are so traumatized they have been unable to return to school at all since, robbing them of their right to an education.

There is also a civil case that Max Benson’s family brought against Guiding Hands School, Handle with Care and the California Department of Education, along with 9 other plaintiff students with disabilities that also endured abuse in prone restraints at Guiding Hands School.

Civil Lawsuit Reveals More About Moments Leading Up To Max Benson's Death

Dangerous seclusion and restraint practices employed against disabled students at school is a statewide and nationwide crisis that needs to be addressed immediately. The California Department of Education cited Guiding Hands school and shut them down (CDE Guiding Hands report). However, both the California Department of Education and Davis Joint Unified School District, were ultimately responsible for Max's education and safety. 

We need to hold the California Department of Education accountable to stop these violent and dangerous practices at our California schools. Signing this petition will take action to end these deadly prone restraints and hold the people responsible accountable. We must be heard, for our children's sake and in honor of Max Benson’s life. Please help us ensure his life was not lost in vain.