Special Needs Student Seriously Injured At Bowie High School

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – It's a hard video to watch, but the Jarrett family has seen it countless times.

It shows their special needs son Peyton, 18, going up a ramp and then tumbling down concrete steps at Bowie High School seconds later. He landed head first on the pavement.

In early April, a fellow special needs student pushed him down the steps.

"He was knocked unconscious and his wheelchair was off to the side," says Peyton's mother Patty Jarrett.

Leslie Johnston with Arlington Independent School District wrote in an email, "At the time, eight students were being supervised by three adults – one teacher and two teaching assistants."

Johnson goes on to write, "Peyton was pushed to the top of the ramp to enter the building. As the adult who was pushing him opened the door, another student pushed the wheelchair."

Peyton's family was just told that he suffered severe brain damage in addition to his facial injuries. He also needed immediate surgery to repair an implant device that helps prevent hundreds of his seizures a day.

"This is not a simple he got hurt at school and they put bandage on it and the boo boo is fixed; he is hurt and it's going to be for a while," Jarrett said. "He has a lot of seizures. He has fits. His demeanor has changed all together."

The cost of Peyton's medical care is spiraling out of control for the family.

They have needed everything from a new $8,000 wheelchair to a nurse to help out around the home.

"That could have easily been my daughter," said Tim Wiley with DFW Charity Racing.

DFW Charity Racing is a non-profit group made up of drag racers that helps families like the Jarretts. When the organization heard the news, it wanted to help –– so the group started a Facebook page for Peyton.

What happened to Peyton has become very personal for Wiley, who also has a special needs daughter.

"My own daughter, she can't communicate; he can talk a little bit, I worry about my own daughter," said Wiley, as he wiped away tears. "She is in a chair a lot, like that there have been situations at school."

Along with Wiley, Peyton's mom is on a mission and wants to make sure, "that this doesn't happen, that they do take precautions and that our children with special needs are just as important as regular-Ed children."

Peyton wasn't able to finish the year and his parents are not sure if he will return to Bowie High School.

Johnston, the district spokeswoman, also says the Arlington ISD deeply regrets what happened to Peyton and the district cannot comment on student disciplinary issues.

CBS 11 News has also learned that the district is working on a new employee safety program, which would help prevent incidents like this.

Johnston would not comment further regarding whether the district would help pay for Peyton's medical costs. Although, the website created by DFW Charity Racing reads "Arlington ISD took immunity and will not help the Jarrett family with any expenses."