A kindergarten employee accused of abusing a disabled child

CROSS BELTS, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Court documents show that a kindergarten employee has been accused of harming a disabled child in her care.

Deputies say the incident occurred at Cross Lanes Child Care and Learning Center.

According to deputies, a former employee of the Big Tyler Road Education Center told officers she witnessed Amber Elizabeth Seiler slap her hand over the mouth of a 4-year-old special needs child and also yell at the child while he was taking a nap.

The alleged abuse is said to have occurred in the summer of 2024.

Amber Seiler of Kenova was charged with battery and assault on a disabled child.

The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) has placed the Cross Lanes Children’s Care and Learning Center on provisional licensing status and reduced the facility’s capacity to zero, according to a DoHS news release.

The decision goes into effect on Sunday, October 27, 2024 – due to serious failure to comply with the state’s child care licensing laws, according to the release.