9 yr. old boy with Autism taken away in handcuffs

[Guest guest]

Brought to you by AutismLink 9-year-old accused of tossing brick at principalFriday, August 25, 2006http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=304095 & Category=15 CANTON A 9-year-old boy who climbed onto the roof of Schreiber School and hurled rocks and a brick at his principal on the first day of school Thursday was arrested on felony charges. When his mother, Muhleman, arrived at the Woodland Avenue NW school, she found him being led away in handcuffs by police. “I was saying, ‘He’s autistic. You’re going to take him in handcuffs. Come on,’ ” she said. “We’re talking about a 9-year-old with developmental

disabilities.” Police said the boy is a “special-needs student” who became agitated over something that happened at the school at 1503 Woodland Ave. NW. Muhleman said her son became upset when some other children refused to play with him. He climbed out of a second-floor window onto the first-story roof of the renovated section of the school at about 1:40 p.m., said police Lt. Cole. Police arrived to find Principal Clifford Reynolds and firefighters on the roof trying to talk the child back into the building. Cole said the boy did not intend to jump. “He was disorderly and agitated from something that happened inside the school,” Cole said. Police did not know what initially upset him. While on the roof, the boy threw rocks and a brick at the principal, Cole said. Reynolds did not return calls from The Repository. Reynolds and the firefighters were able to get the boy

back into the building. They took him to Reynolds’ office. Fire Capt. Goldy said that the boy managed to get the principal’s paddle and raised it in a threatening manner. A police officer told him to put it down, and then the principal grabbed the boy. Cole said the boy then struck Reynolds in the chest with his hand. The principal was not seriously injured and did not require medical treatment, police said. The boy was charged with felonious assault, assault on a school employee, inducing panic — both felonies — and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. Muhleman said her son was finally released to her custody at the Faircrest detention center of the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System around 6 p.m. Other than some redness on his wrists because of the handcuffs, he was fine, she said. Muhleman said that her son has been diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, which is

part of a spectrum of disorders that includes autism and Asperger’s syndrome, but doe s not meet all the characteristics of either disorder. She said her son has difficulty communicating with people, especially nonverbally. When he can’t express himself, he often reacts with frustration or confusion. “It’s not because he’s out of control. It’s because no one understands him. He’s fine with me. But I can’t stay with him. I have to work.” Muhleman said she’s tried to get her son the treatment he needs. A therapist provided by a nonprofit agency is working with him to develop his social skills and he gets regular counseling, but her insurance won’t cover everything. “I feel like crying. ... I feel devastated,” she said. “I feel I’ve tried everything. ... what am I missing? I can’t be at the school to make sure everything is going well.” Muhleman believes her son acted out because he was hurt and confused when some

other children wouldn’t play with him. “His social skills are lacking, and he doesn’t know how to express himself. ... he doesn’t understand why someone doesn’t want to play with him, he gets angry.” Frustrated, she feels school officials aren’t doing enough. “The school never figures out what the trigger is,” she said. “They’re not making an effort to understand.” Muhleman said she understands that parents of other children may be apprehensive about her son, but wants people to educate themselves about his condition. Cordova, juvenile chief assistant prosecuting attorney, said, “Obviously nobody wants to bring a kid that young into the juvenile justice system, but sometimes it’s necessary just to make sure that things like this don’t happen again.” “He’s grounded,” said Muhleman. “He’s not going to be having a lot of fun for a little while.”

Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Small Business.

[Guest guest]

This story breaks my heart. This little boy could very well be any of

our kids at any point in their lives. I feel so sad for this family. I

can't even begin to imagine what is going through this boys mind. It

is amazing to me with all the autism awareness this little boy and his

family is suffering. They are obviously not getting the help that they

need so much.

>

> Brought to you by AutismLink

> ---------------------------------

> 9-year-old accused of tossing brick at principal

> Friday, August 25, 2006

> http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=304095 & Category=15

>

> CANTON A 9-year-old boy who climbed onto the roof of Schreiber

School and hurled rocks and a brick at his principal on the first day

of school Thursday was arrested on felony charges.

> When his mother, Muhleman, arrived at the Woodland Avenue NW

school, she found him being led away in handcuffs by police.

> " I was saying, `He's autistic. You're going to take him in

handcuffs. Come on,' " she said. " We're talking about a 9-year-old

with developmental disabilities. "

> Police said the boy is a " special-needs student " who became

agitated over something that happened at the school at 1503 Woodland

Ave. NW.

> Muhleman said her son became upset when some other children

refused to play with him.

> He climbed out of a second-floor window onto the first-story roof

of the renovated section of the school at about 1:40 p.m., said police

Lt. Cole.

> Police arrived to find Principal Clifford Reynolds and

firefighters on the roof trying to talk the child back into the

building. Cole said the boy did not intend to jump.

> " He was disorderly and agitated from something that happened

inside the school, " Cole said. Police did not know what initially

upset him.

> While on the roof, the boy threw rocks and a brick at the

principal, Cole said.

> Reynolds did not return calls from The Repository.

> Reynolds and the firefighters were able to get the boy back into

the building. They took him to Reynolds' office. Fire Capt.

Goldy said that the boy managed to get the principal's paddle and

raised it in a threatening manner. A police officer told him to put it

down, and then the principal grabbed the boy.

> Cole said the boy then struck Reynolds in the chest with his hand.

> The principal was not seriously injured and did not require

medical treatment, police said.

> The boy was charged with felonious assault, assault on a school

employee, inducing panic — both felonies — and disorderly conduct, a

misdemeanor.

> Muhleman said her son was finally released to her custody at the

Faircrest detention center of the Multi-County Juvenile Attention

System around 6 p.m. Other than some redness on his wrists because of

the handcuffs, he was fine, she said.

> Muhleman said that her son has been diagnosed with Pervasive

Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, which is part of a

spectrum of disorders that includes autism and Asperger's syndrome,

but doe s not meet all the characteristics of either disorder.

> She said her son has difficulty communicating with people,

especially nonverbally. When he can't express himself, he often reacts

with frustration or confusion.

> " It's not because he's out of control. It's because no one

understands him. He's fine with me. But I can't stay with him. I have

to work. "

> Muhleman said she's tried to get her son the treatment he needs. A

therapist provided by a nonprofit agency is working with him to

develop his social skills and he gets regular counseling, but her

insurance won't cover everything.

> " I feel like crying. ... I feel devastated, " she said. " I feel

I've tried everything. ... what am I missing? I can't be at the school

to make sure everything is going well. "

> Muhleman believes her son acted out because he was hurt and

confused when some other children wouldn't play with him.

> " His social skills are lacking, and he doesn't know how to express

himself. ... he doesn't understand why someone doesn't want to play

with him, he gets angry. "

> Frustrated, she feels school officials aren't doing enough.

> " The school never figures out what the trigger is, " she said.

" They're not making an effort to understand. "

> Muhleman said she understands that parents of other children may

be apprehensive about her son, but wants people to educate themselves

about his condition.

> Cordova, juvenile chief assistant prosecuting attorney,

said, " Obviously nobody wants to bring a kid that young into the

juvenile justice system, but sometimes it's necessary just to make

sure that things like this don't happen again. "

> " He's grounded, " said Muhleman. " He's not going to be having a lot

of fun for a little while. "

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Small Business.

>

[Guest guest]

This story breaks my heart. This little boy could very well be any of

our kids at any point in their lives. I feel so sad for this family. I

can't even begin to imagine what is going through this boys mind. It

is amazing to me with all the autism awareness this little boy and his

family is suffering. They are obviously not getting the help that they

need so much.

>

> Brought to you by AutismLink

> ---------------------------------

> 9-year-old accused of tossing brick at principal

> Friday, August 25, 2006

> http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=304095 & Category=15

>

> CANTON A 9-year-old boy who climbed onto the roof of Schreiber

School and hurled rocks and a brick at his principal on the first day

of school Thursday was arrested on felony charges.

> When his mother, Muhleman, arrived at the Woodland Avenue NW

school, she found him being led away in handcuffs by police.

> " I was saying, `He's autistic. You're going to take him in

handcuffs. Come on,' " she said. " We're talking about a 9-year-old

with developmental disabilities. "

> Police said the boy is a " special-needs student " who became

agitated over something that happened at the school at 1503 Woodland

Ave. NW.

> Muhleman said her son became upset when some other children

refused to play with him.

> He climbed out of a second-floor window onto the first-story roof

of the renovated section of the school at about 1:40 p.m., said police

Lt. Cole.

> Police arrived to find Principal Clifford Reynolds and

firefighters on the roof trying to talk the child back into the

building. Cole said the boy did not intend to jump.

> " He was disorderly and agitated from something that happened

inside the school, " Cole said. Police did not know what initially

upset him.

> While on the roof, the boy threw rocks and a brick at the

principal, Cole said.

> Reynolds did not return calls from The Repository.

> Reynolds and the firefighters were able to get the boy back into

the building. They took him to Reynolds' office. Fire Capt.

Goldy said that the boy managed to get the principal's paddle and

raised it in a threatening manner. A police officer told him to put it

down, and then the principal grabbed the boy.

> Cole said the boy then struck Reynolds in the chest with his hand.

> The principal was not seriously injured and did not require

medical treatment, police said.

> The boy was charged with felonious assault, assault on a school

employee, inducing panic — both felonies — and disorderly conduct, a

misdemeanor.

> Muhleman said her son was finally released to her custody at the

Faircrest detention center of the Multi-County Juvenile Attention

System around 6 p.m. Other than some redness on his wrists because of

the handcuffs, he was fine, she said.

> Muhleman said that her son has been diagnosed with Pervasive

Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, which is part of a

spectrum of disorders that includes autism and Asperger's syndrome,

but doe s not meet all the characteristics of either disorder.

> She said her son has difficulty communicating with people,

especially nonverbally. When he can't express himself, he often reacts

with frustration or confusion.

> " It's not because he's out of control. It's because no one

understands him. He's fine with me. But I can't stay with him. I have

to work. "

> Muhleman said she's tried to get her son the treatment he needs. A

therapist provided by a nonprofit agency is working with him to

develop his social skills and he gets regular counseling, but her

insurance won't cover everything.

> " I feel like crying. ... I feel devastated, " she said. " I feel

I've tried everything. ... what am I missing? I can't be at the school

to make sure everything is going well. "

> Muhleman believes her son acted out because he was hurt and

confused when some other children wouldn't play with him.

> " His social skills are lacking, and he doesn't know how to express

himself. ... he doesn't understand why someone doesn't want to play

with him, he gets angry. "

> Frustrated, she feels school officials aren't doing enough.

> " The school never figures out what the trigger is, " she said.

" They're not making an effort to understand. "

> Muhleman said she understands that parents of other children may

be apprehensive about her son, but wants people to educate themselves

about his condition.

> Cordova, juvenile chief assistant prosecuting attorney,

said, " Obviously nobody wants to bring a kid that young into the

juvenile justice system, but sometimes it's necessary just to make

sure that things like this don't happen again. "

> " He's grounded, " said Muhleman. " He's not going to be having a lot

of fun for a little while. "

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Small Business.

>