Hello, I am writing to you to tell you that a child with Down syndrome has been discriminated against in Pinellas County. We need your help in defending Down syndrome TODAY.
On 7/28/25, during a child custody hearing for case 2025-2342-FD, Cabezudo vs. Cabezudo, at Courtroom 2A at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building in Pinellas at 545 First Ave North in St. Petersburg, FL, Judge Helinger used the word “sad” in reference to divorcing families that have an individual with Down syndrome, children with Down syndrome, and the condition of Down syndrome itself.
As you know, there is nothing “sad” about our families with people with Down syndrome, our children with Down syndrome, or Down syndrome as a condition. The only thing that is “sad” is Judge Helinger’s bias. He needs to be recused from this case and removed from his office IMMEDIATELY.
In this same hearing, Judge Helinger also denied custody, notably, without any educational justification to the mother in the case, Geraldine Cabezudo— a mother who has zero history of drug abuse, child neglect, and child abuse, and has only demonstrated historic concern for domestic violence issues involving the father in the case, Andrew Cabezudo, and the paternal grandmother, Gloria Cabezudo.
Geraldine Cabezudo is a mother who is nearly fluent in sign language and has 14 years of experience in special education as both a special education teacher as well as speech language pathologist, and has been the homeschooling teacher for the children in the child custody case in Marion County.
During that same 7/28/25 hearing, Geraldine Cabezudo extolled the benefits of using sign language with children with Down syndrome and her homeschooling program. Her years of professional experience in the public school system has shown her that the complex communication needs of children with Down syndrome are unique to each child.
How many public school programs offer 1:1 signing instruction for non-Deaf and non-Hard-of-Hearing students with Down syndrome with full inclusion with typically developing peers in this country? Zero. The best interests of the child with Down syndrome in this case is best served by her, the homeschooling, signing mother.
In addition, during a 6/23/25 hearing for the same case, Judge Helinger also said that mention of the term “God” is “not allowed in civil court” when Geraldine Cabezudo was questioning the veracity of the testimony of her child’s paternal grandmother, Gloria Cabezudo, which was in direct conflict with her child’s account of child abuse. This was an example of a violation of Geraldine Cabezudo’s first amendment right to free speech, again, showing bias. Judge Helinger also made reference during that hearing that he was a father, too, showing bias once more. Finally, when Judge Helinger mistakenly made reference to the child’s “autism,” even the attorney for the father Andrew Cabezudo, Garth Goodman, had to remind the Judge that the condition of autism bore no relevance to the child custody case. Judge Helinger has a fundamental lack of understanding of children with special needs.
Please help us TODAY and email Florida Representative of District 60, Lindsay Cross, in support of Judge Helinger’s recusal from this divorce/child custody case, his Impeachment, and his Removal of Office in Pinellas County as a Family Division Judge:
Want to keep helping kids with Down syndrome?
Meet us on October 1, 2025 at 10:00am at Courtroom 2A at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building in Pinellas at 545 First Ave North in St. Petersburg, FL with signs “#imsadinpinellascounty” and use the #imsadinpinellascounty and #judgehelinger across your social media channels.
Want to do more?
Tag prominent local businesses, local tourism boards, local government officials, beaches, and your favorite Down syndrome influencers! Use the hashtags #imsadinpinellascounty and #judgehelinger across your social media channels.
Want to do even more?
Spread the word!
Justice depends on it.
Imsadinpinellascounty.com 
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