7 On Your Side: Going back to school to get a teacher back pay

HAUPAUGGE, N.Y. (WABC) -- For a mother from Long Island who was working but not getting paid, it was becoming more difficult to get by.

Michele Iallonardi was struggling with no paycheck while also trying to raise a child with special needs.

And it was that special child who inspired her to go back to school to help other families living with autism, just like hers. Her first real job, though, turned into a real struggle, until she got 7 On Her Side.

Raising a severely autistic son is a challenge the Iallonardi family rises to every day. Little Jackson requires constant care, but she found time to get her Masters degree and now teaches others how to educate kids affected by autism.

"So many of our kids with autism are going into their typical school," she said. "And these teachers don't have training on working with kids with autism."

Last year, she taught two autism courses at a nearby educational institute for professional development, getting paid per student.

But despite 20-plus enrolling in her course, she only got paid $1,000.

"They owe me almost $3,000," she said.

And that's money they really need, as Jackson's medical bills have put the family of five in debt.

"He has brain surgery, kidney surgery, he has seizures, he has colitis, he has immune deficiency, allergies, low growth hormone," Michele said.

His daily medicine and supplements cost more than $1,000 a month, but each time Michele tried to get her back pay, she says she only got the runaround.

Then she was shocked to get a mass email notice saying the school was closing in January.

So Eyewitness News contacted the director of school, and within two weeks, Michele got her back pay in full.

"Oh my God, this makes such a huge difference for my family," she said. "This is for my son."

The school's director said that he owes a dozen other instructors thousands of dollars. He says the institute suffered a flood and is waiting for an insurance check that delayed funding to some of the staff.

He said he's gotten on payment plans with all the affected teachers and is paying off all the money each month.

The takeaway is that it's important for per diem or freelance workers to keep time sheets and make sure a supervisor signs off on each one.