Update on Dangerous Student

[Guest guest]

Well, the head of the special ed department at my sons school and where this

dangerous student is, once again had to go see the doctor because of an injury

done to her! HER husband went to administration today raising kane and telling

them his wife would NOT be returning until she can be guaranteed a safe

environment!! (I don't know how many times this same student has injured her,

but at one time it resulted in a broken foot) Now there are FOUR staff out -

for how long, don't know! Which means the department is now UNDER staffed.

Which means that one of my sons who is in a behavioral class does not have the

trained staff to deal with behavioral issues. Also, another mother's child who

has a severe seizure disorder, will not have someone in her classroom who knows

what to do with about seizures. And what happens if this dangerous kid gets

loose?

So now what???? I am so glad the husband went in madder then heck - maybe HE

can draw attention to this dangerous situation. AND the doctor who has handled

most of the injuries is writing a letter to the district - he said this has got

to stop!!

And I'm wondering who in the district I can call to voice MY concern? This has

gone way too far - he could kill someone!!!

[Guest guest]

Have any other parents complained to the necessary individuals up the ladder?

The last resort after the superintendent are the school board members. I suggest

talking to them on an individual basis with other parents that have been

affected. After that, bring it up at a school board meeting on the comments

section.

>

> Well, the head of the special ed department at my sons school and where this

dangerous student is, once again had to go see the doctor because of an injury

done to her! HER husband went to administration today raising kane and telling

them his wife would NOT be returning until she can be guaranteed a safe

environment!! (I don't know how many times this same student has injured her,

but at one time it resulted in a broken foot) Now there are FOUR staff out -

for how long, don't know! Which means the department is now UNDER staffed.

Which means that one of my sons who is in a behavioral class does not have the

trained staff to deal with behavioral issues. Also, another mother's child who

has a severe seizure disorder, will not have someone in her classroom who knows

what to do with about seizures. And what happens if this dangerous kid gets

loose?

>

> So now what???? I am so glad the husband went in madder then heck - maybe HE

can draw attention to this dangerous situation. AND the doctor who has handled

most of the injuries is writing a letter to the district - he said this has got

to stop!!

>

> And I'm wondering who in the district I can call to voice MY concern? This

has gone way too far - he could kill someone!!!

>

[Guest guest]

I think you need to remember the things you are hearing are second hand. If things were really this bad they would have sent this kid out to one of the autism centers. Has he hurt your child or any child that you know of for fact? I am only saying this because my son is a so called "dangerous" student. He hits his teachers if he's scared. He's never injured one and he's never hit a student...it's mostly just posturing and making noise. I can't tell you how isolating it is to be the Mom of a student whom others fear because they've heard half truths. If the situation really is this bad I'm assuming you could go to the principal and let your fears be known. If that doesn't do the trick try the autism person for you school district. Another reason I find this hard to believe is because my son like I said has never injured anyone...he slaps hands or half heartedly kicks at teachers. I can tell you for a fact they'd remove him in a New York minute if he injured somebody...they've told me so. The fact is this kid you're speaking of is a kid who is hurting and scared, he's somebody's child. Chances are more than good the things you're hearing are beefed up.We all know how isolating autism can be in our lives and our kid's lives. Let's not make someone else's hell worse by listening to or spreading gossip

[Guest guest]

Amen!

>

>

> I think you need to remember the things you are hearing are second hand. If

things were really this bad they would have sent this kid out to one of the

autism centers. Has he hurt your child or any child that you know of for fact? I

am only saying this because my son is a so called " dangerous " student. He hits

his teachers if he's scared. He's never injured one and he's never hit a

student...it's mostly just posturing and making noise. I can't tell you how

isolating it is to be the Mom of a student whom others fear because they've

heard half truths. If the situation really is this bad I'm assuming you could go

to the principal and let your fears be known. If that doesn't do the trick try

the autism person for you school district. Another reason I find this hard to

believe is because my son like I said has never injured anyone...he slaps hands

or half heartedly kicks at teachers. I can tell you for a fact they'd remove him

in a New York minute if he injured somebody...they've told me so. The fact is

this kid you're speaking of is a kid who is hurting and scared, he's somebody's

child. Chances are more than good the things you're hearing are beefed up.We all

know how isolating autism can be in our lives and our kid's lives. Let's not

make someone else's hell worse by listening to or spreading gossip

>

[Guest guest]

This is a tough subject! The only people who can really know how severe the situation is are the people directly involved. We’ve had similar situations where a group of parents went to the superintendent to get our son out of school because of his behavior when he was young but now he is a great kid who has been commended for helping the younger kids with their behavior. I’ve also personal knowledge of a child who did serious harm to a teacher so I can assure you the situation described is entirely possible. That said, are our kids always as bad as they are portrayed? NO! Are they sometimes worse than how we perceive them? YES! We all just have to keep perspectives in mind. Tonya

[Guest guest]

You hit the nail on the head, Trina - especially if the kid is on Medicaid, no

one wants to be the one to suggest residential placement at an ARD meeting

because if you do, you're immediately liable for the bill. The two students I

mentioned in my earlier post are in this category (although the kids in my class

aren't autistic, they are diagnosed as " emotionally disturbed, " usually due to a

very traumatic childhood). So, unless it's majorly different for children

diagnosed with autism, chances are actually very slim that a dangerous child

will get pulled and sent to residential treatment because no one wants to pay

for it. In our class, we are essentially the " last resort " for the entire

district's kids who have such aggressive and violent behavior, they cannot

remain at their home schools. There is no where to send them after us, no

matter how bad their behavior.

-

> > >

> > >

> > > I think you need to remember the things you are hearing are second hand.

> > If things were really this bad they would have sent this kid out to one of

> > the autism centers. Has he hurt your child or any child that you know of for

> > fact? I am only saying this because my son is a so called " dangerous "

> > student. He hits his teachers if he's scared. He's never injured one and

> > he's never hit a student...it's mostly just posturing and making noise. I

> > can't tell you how isolating it is to be the Mom of a student whom others

> > fear because they've heard half truths. If the situation really is this bad

> > I'm assuming you could go to the principal and let your fears be known. If

> > that doesn't do the trick try the autism person for you school district.

> > Another reason I find this hard to believe is because my son like I said has

> > never injured anyone...he slaps hands or half heartedly kicks at teachers. I

> > can tell you for a fact they'd remove him in a New York minute if he injured

> > somebody...they've told me so. The fact is this kid you're speaking of is a

> > kid who is hurting and scared, he's somebody's child. Chances are more than

> > good the things you're hearing are beefed up.We all know how isolating

> > autism can be in our lives and our kid's lives. Let's not make someone

> > else's hell worse by listening to or spreading gossip

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You are 100% correct there. My son's trouble at his old school were 100% the cause of the school's lack of training and staff. They never followed his IEP which with a child who's hitting is pretty important. He'd be showing all sorts of warning signs that he was going to errupt...literally the same exact sequence of behaviors every time.We documented them in the IEP and said what was to happen to prevent a blow up...they had one teacher in the speacial ed room and no aide!! They had no intervention team or anything. To top it off the special ed teacher was just a normal teacher who they stuck in the classroom when the other teacher left. So she knew nothing about autism and would frequently use sarcasm on my son. It got pretty bad for my son. He wanted to be good and he wanted to do what was right, but they really made it impossible. Then when he did errupt they'd send him home...which was what he wanted. So he learned for 5 years if you hit you go home. Now we are in a new amazing public school and they are doing right by him finally.The changes in him in just a few weeks were drastic. He's a whole new kid

[Guest guest]

If this is true, then I'm not sure what can be done...particularly after the teacher commented saying that she's had students that got stuck there because there was nowhere else for them to go. I say if this is the case and you are 100% sure, then maybe you need to threaten them with going to the press if they won't make a change. I'm sorry to make you feel like you regret posting. It's just that I have seen some absolute witch hunts on some kids, one of them being mine. You shouldn't have access tot he fact that her husband came in or that she had surgery or any other private matters of the school. That's why I questioned how valid what you were hearing was. My son had the cops called on hima t school because he tried to run away...he didn't hit anyone, he just tried to run home. If a child steps off school property the police must be called. So then some teachers who didn't know or teach my son and their friends told everyone he attacked somebody and got arrested. The neighborhood kids weren't allowed to play with my son anymore...except for the ones who's parents actually knew us and knew it wasn't true. Sometimes things can look like one thing and be another...that's all I'm saying. I hope you can find a resolution to your problem. Have you tried getting an advocate or an attourney?You could get an attourney to just attend a meeting with you and it shouldn't be too expensive

[Guest guest]

My son has a male "intervention" teacher. This man's sole purpose is to come in if there is a problem and take whatever action is decided upon. He also has the kids in his room sometimes for a sensory break or tutoring help. This man also has an aide just for him. Then there is an intervention team as well that helps if the situation requires more than one person. The team includes somebody who is trained to watch and make sure the child is not in distress. My son is in a regular ed room with an aide...it's not only my son's aide, but she mostly works with him. This school is amazing. The male teacher has the heart for the job and the knowledge, which are also majorly important

[Guest guest]

That is fabulous advice! I wish I'd had a group like this when I lived in Georgia

[Guest guest]

, I'd jus like to give you a personal thank you for taking on your job. There was a time when I was convinced my son was going to turn out to be the worst. Not many people can do your job, so bless you for doing it.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Trina! I don’t know about the one is Dallas, but have a friend who used Bayes Achievement Center and was pleased with their work. http://www.bayescenter.com I think they probably have a good relationship with schools since they have had a booth at the State Autism Conference before.Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of ShermanSent: Friday, January 28, 2011 7:34 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: Re: Update on Dangerous Student I agree with Tonya. But the other parent below is not understanding that this can be very real. Teachers noses broken, kids bitten, teachers arms broken.I have seen this with my own eyes and my son has been bitten many times. When these kids get bigger and stronger they can become a danger to themselves and others but what to do? Schools don't want to pay for residential placement. Ann Hart at ASA might remember the name of the residential ABA school in Dallas I have forgotten the name but that is the school I would recommend. At this point your best bet would be to take a group of parents and address the school board. Do it during the public comment portion so that it is on record. You might point out that although schools have sovereign immunity (aren’t liable legally) that right is waived in the case of gross neglect. I heard this many years ago in a TCASE training so they should be aware of it but knowing you are aware of it might give them some more incentive to act. I’m sorry, I don’t have the statute that discusses this, but someone on this list or the one associated with www.topaa.org should have it. Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of mayflowers53Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 6:53 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: Update on Dangerous Student Ok - REALLY????????????????????????This kid is 6 foot 3 inches in HIGH SCHOOL - he is not a kindergarten student nor an elementary student!!!!!!WHEN THE HUSBAND gets pissed off this is serious!!!!When a teacher had to have SURGERY and is probably out for the year - this is serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!When the head of the department gets a broken foot - this is serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!When the department is now short handed because of a dangerous kid - this is serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THIS STUDENT is the ONLY one in this ROOM - I am regretting I even posted because of some of the comments that have been posted - YES the deputy superintendent KNOWS - we told him!!!I don't know if this student is in a group home or still lives at home! THE POINT is that this has gone too far!>> > I think you need to remember the things you are hearing are second hand. If things were really this bad they would have sent this kid out to one of the autism centers. Has he hurt your child or any child that you know of for fact? I am only saying this because my son is a so called " dangerous " student. He hits his teachers if he's scared. He's never injured one and he's never hit a student...it's mostly just posturing and making noise. I can't tell you how isolating it is to be the Mom of a student whom others fear because they've heard half truths. If the situation really is this bad I'm assuming you could go to the principal and let your fears be known. If that doesn't do the trick try the autism person for you school district. Another reason I find this hard to believe is because my son like I said has never injured anyone...he slaps hands or half heartedly kicks at teachers. I can tell you for a fact they'd remove him in a New York minute if he injured somebody...they've told me so. The fact is this kid you're speaking of is a kid who is hurting and scared, he's somebody's child. Chances are more than good the things you're hearing are beefed up.We all know how isolating autism can be in our lives and our kid's lives. Let's not make someone else's hell worse by listening to or spreading gossip>

[Guest guest]

Some state hospitals take kids but I don’t know if they are any good. MHMR placed my nephew in the one at Wichita Falls when he was 10.Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 4:11 PMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: Update on Dangerous Student You hit the nail on the head, Trina - especially if the kid is on Medicaid, no one wants to be the one to suggest residential placement at an ARD meeting because if you do, you're immediately liable for the bill. The two students I mentioned in my earlier post are in this category (although the kids in my class aren't autistic, they are diagnosed as " emotionally disturbed, " usually due to a very traumatic childhood). So, unless it's majorly different for children diagnosed with autism, chances are actually very slim that a dangerous child will get pulled and sent to residential treatment because no one wants to pay for it. In our class, we are essentially the " last resort " for the entire district's kids who have such aggressive and violent behavior, they cannot remain at their home schools. There is no where to send them after us, no matter how bad their behavior.- > > >> > >> > > I think you need to remember the things you are hearing are second hand.> > If things were really this bad they would have sent this kid out to one of> > the autism centers. Has he hurt your child or any child that you know of for> > fact? I am only saying this because my son is a so called " dangerous " > > student. He hits his teachers if he's scared. He's never injured one and> > he's never hit a student...it's mostly just posturing and making noise. I> > can't tell you how isolating it is to be the Mom of a student whom others> > fear because they've heard half truths. If the situation really is this bad> > I'm assuming you could go to the principal and let your fears be known. If> > that doesn't do the trick try the autism person for you school district.> > Another reason I find this hard to believe is because my son like I said has> > never injured anyone...he slaps hands or half heartedly kicks at teachers. I> > can tell you for a fact they'd remove him in a New York minute if he injured> > somebody...they've told me so. The fact is this kid you're speaking of is a> > kid who is hurting and scared, he's somebody's child. Chances are more than> > good the things you're hearing are beefed up.We all know how isolating> > autism can be in our lives and our kid's lives. Let's not make someone> > else's hell worse by listening to or spreading gossip> > >> >> > > >>

[Guest guest]

Same at our school. My son hated him for the first two years, and then all of a

sudden, realy likes him this year. They also started a Wilderness Adventure

program for the boys who need more guidance as a sort of leadership/character

building class. My son was one of the first students picked and he loves it.

They are learning things like how to build a shelter, archery, etc... He is now

bringing in other boys and using the first couple like my son as the

leaders/teachers. My son's confidence is so much better and he is really making

friends this year.

>

>

> My son has a male " intervention " teacher. This man's sole purpose is to come

in if there is a problem and take whatever action is decided upon. He also has

the kids in his room sometimes for a sensory break or tutoring help. This man

also has an aide just for him. Then there is an intervention team as well that

helps if the situation requires more than one person. The team includes somebody

who is trained to watch and make sure the child is not in distress. My son is in

a regular ed room with an aide...it's not only my son's aide, but she mostly

works with him. This school is amazing. The male teacher has the heart for the

job and the knowledge, which are also majorly important

>

[Guest guest]

I can totally see the school / neighborhood " rumor mill " creating the scenario

you described, . The previous two school years, my pretty severely

affected ASD son was that kid at his old school. If something happened, he was

almost always blamed because he was so volatile, and it became a self-fulfilling

prophecy - they expected him to be " bad, " so he was bad. This year, he's in a

life skills class at my school, and although he's had his flare-ups, they're

nothing compared to the previous two school years, mainly because he's in a more

positive environment.

Also, with the emotionally disturbed kids I work with, I hear all sorts of

snarky comments about them from the general ed teachers. Just last week, we had

a 4th grade assembly in the library with a visiting author, and one of the

general ed teachers loudly asked the assistant principal if the reason she was

attending was because there were 7 ACHIEVE (my behavior program) kids in the

audience (e.g. implying that they would act out and need her intervention). My

behavior kids are always the first blamed for " bad " behavior, even if it's no

more severe than any other kid's. I have one boy who is doing amazingly well,

going to his general ed 4th grade class (with my supervision), but all the

teacher can tell me is how little of his work he's completing. Heck, it's a

miracle he's even managing to attend behaviorally, who cares about doing the

work at this point! I get it that general ed teachers are stressed about TAKS,

and our " bad " kids make it harder for them to teach the required lessons, but

quite frankly, tough luck for them - our students are their students, too.

Sorry for my rant!

-

>

>

> If this is true, then I'm not sure what can be done...particularly after the

teacher commented saying that she's had students that got stuck there because

there was nowhere else for them to go. I say if this is the case and you are

100% sure, then maybe you need to threaten them with going to the press if they

won't make a change. I'm sorry to make you feel like you regret posting. It's

just that I have seen some absolute witch hunts on some kids, one of them being

mine. You shouldn't have access tot he fact that her husband came in or that she

had surgery or any other private matters of the school. That's why I questioned

how valid what you were hearing was. My son had the cops called on hima t school

because he tried to run away...he didn't hit anyone, he just tried to run home.

If a child steps off school property the police must be called. So then some

teachers who didn't know or teach my son and their friends told everyone he

attacked somebody and got arrested. The neighborhood kids weren't allowed to

play with my son anymore...except for the ones who's parents actually knew us

and knew it wasn't true. Sometimes things can look like one thing and be

another...that's all I'm saying. I hope you can find a resolution to your

problem. Have you tried getting an advocate or an attourney?You could get an

attourney to just attend a meeting with you and it shouldn't be too expensive

>

[Guest guest]

I think the residential school in Dallas that is contracted with the state is the DFW Center for Autism.  check the TEA site and they should have the contracted, residential school listed there.Yes, the school don't want t pay for it, so they will keep telling parents " We can handle it, " when they cannot.

I am well aware of how dangerous it can be for teachers and aides.  I started out as an aide in a public facility for children and adults in Dallas (I don't know if it is still there).  they ran a supervised workshop and also classes for younger kids.  I worked all over but for a while, predominately in the class with severely handicapped from 16 -27 years of age.

In this area of Dallas, It was primarily a very poor area.  The school had a self-defense instructor come in and work with us.We had a severely handicapped boy who was also emotionally disturbed.  I had also a sixteen year old boy who was taller than me and VERY strong.  One day, he grabbed my wrist and clamped down so hard on it, I thought my wrist would break.  I finally got him to release it.

The emotionally disturbed boy was NEVER to be left alone, but the teacher I worked for..... Well, let's just say there is a special corner in hell reserved for this woman.  She was lazy and abusive.  While I was at a meeting, she left this boy alone in the bathroom.  She would never follow the bathroom routine and would leave them wet and/or soiled until I came into the room to change them.  Well, she left this boy alone in the bathroom with the door closed.

I came in and asked where he was and when I went into the bathroom, I saw he had taken feces and smeared it everywhere!  He had even thrown it up on the ceiling!  I had to run to the window and get some air.  This teacher thought it was funny (that's just the kind of monster she was).  then she started talking about how she was " going to leave a little surprise " for the night maid.  We got into it (as we often did) about it.

When she took the kids to the bus, I donned a mask and gloves and cleaned everything up.  Yes, I often complained to the principal about this woman but her thinking was " Well, we just can't find anyone else willing to take these kids. "   They were supposed to teach them basic life skills so they wouldn't wind up in institutions if something happened to their legal guardians, but this " teacher " taught them nothing.

I was a shy, reticent twenty year old back then and really knew nothing about how the real world worked.  I knew nothing about going over the principal's head say to the media.  Would it have made a difference back then?  This was over thirty years ago.  I have never forgotten the abusive way she treated those poor kids.  If it were today.... I would have knocked the you know what out of this woman and sitting in jail for it if I had to would have been worth it.

So I am so FOR two way windows so parents can check up on their kids.   They will try to use HIPPA as a means not to have this, but I think parents who have non-verbal children in PPCD and other self-contained rooms should get together and agree.  sign HIPPA waivers, raise the money to have these windows installed.  It could be as cheap and simple as replacing the small windows in the doors, and these parents should be allowed to surprise visit --period.

Or they should have a means where parents can link to the classroom via Skype and see what is really going  on.  I believe if schools think they can get away with not following IEP's and doing what they are supposed to be doing, then they will take the easiest route because most schools don't believe our kids or their futures matter. They just want the special ed dollars.

So I do feel for these teachers who are not trained in dealing with violent kids, and I know there was one in my son's room at one time, and I got his doctor to write letters stating that my son was not to be around kids with violent behavior due to my son's propensity to imitate.  I feel for the parents, because half the time when the kid flies off the handle, it is due to poorly trained teachers and staff who are clueless.

It happened one day with my son who is very well behaved most of the time.  But a lack of understanding regarding auditory processing disorder led my son to get frustrated and throw a desk.  A lot of times bad behavior can come from sheer frustration on the part of the child.

What I hate most is seeing these kids wind up in alternative school just because the schools don't understand ASD, and alternative schools are their easy solution.  It is such a tragedy.Why is the parent monetarily liable for the bill if they bring up residential placement at an ARD?  I thought if you have a paper trail that can prove they cannot appropriately handle the situation, the school is liable to provide one.

[Guest guest]

Love your attitude ! Please know that people like you are angels sent to our kids. Our son has a heaven sent angel in the form of a behavior re-director. She is calm and consistent with the kids and holds high expectations for them but the biggest tool in her arsenal is she truly cares about them and lets the kids know it. I can’t tell you the changes she has brought about in our son and am so very grateful for people like her and you!!! Once, in another workshop, lol, the presenter pointed out that our kids’ behavior is constantly under a microscope and to think about our own behavior. Could we survive that type of scrutiny without making multiple mistakes? Useful thought to bring up at ARDs….. Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:32 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: Update on Dangerous Student I can totally see the school / neighborhood " rumor mill " creating the scenario you described, . The previous two school years, my pretty severely affected ASD son was that kid at his old school. If something happened, he was almost always blamed because he was so volatile, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy - they expected him to be " bad, " so he was bad. This year, he's in a life skills class at my school, and although he's had his flare-ups, they're nothing compared to the previous two school years, mainly because he's in a more positive environment.Also, with the emotionally disturbed kids I work with, I hear all sorts of snarky comments about them from the general ed teachers. Just last week, we had a 4th grade assembly in the library with a visiting author, and one of the general ed teachers loudly asked the assistant principal if the reason she was attending was because there were 7 ACHIEVE (my behavior program) kids in the audience (e.g. implying that they would act out and need her intervention). My behavior kids are always the first blamed for " bad " behavior, even if it's no more severe than any other kid's. I have one boy who is doing amazingly well, going to his general ed 4th grade class (with my supervision), but all the teacher can tell me is how little of his work he's completing. Heck, it's a miracle he's even managing to attend behaviorally, who cares about doing the work at this point! I get it that general ed teachers are stressed about TAKS, and our " bad " kids make it harder for them to teach the required lessons, but quite frankly, tough luck for them - our students are their students, too.Sorry for my rant!- >> > If this is true, then I'm not sure what can be done...particularly after the teacher commented saying that she's had students that got stuck there because there was nowhere else for them to go. I say if this is the case and you are 100% sure, then maybe you need to threaten them with going to the press if they won't make a change. I'm sorry to make you feel like you regret posting. It's just that I have seen some absolute witch hunts on some kids, one of them being mine. You shouldn't have access tot he fact that her husband came in or that she had surgery or any other private matters of the school. That's why I questioned how valid what you were hearing was. My son had the cops called on hima t school because he tried to run away...he didn't hit anyone, he just tried to run home. If a child steps off school property the police must be called. So then some teachers who didn't know or teach my son and their friends told everyone he attacked somebody and got arrested. The neighborhood kids weren't allowed to play with my son anymore...except for the ones who's parents actually knew us and knew it wasn't true. Sometimes things can look like one thing and be another...that's all I'm saying. I hope you can find a resolution to your problem. Have you tried getting an advocate or an attourney?You could get an attourney to just attend a meeting with you and it shouldn't be too expensive>

[Guest guest]

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/pmi/spedmon/resources/NP_List.pdf is the TEA list of Approved Non-Public Schools Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Haven DeLaySent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 10:43 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: Re: Update on Dangerous Student I think the residential school in Dallas that is contracted with the state is the DFW Center for Autism. check the TEA site and they should have the contracted, residential school listed there.Yes, the school don't want t pay for it, so they will keep telling parents " We can handle it, " when they cannot.I am well aware of how dangerous it can be for teachers and aides. I started out as an aide in a public facility for children and adults in Dallas (I don't know if it is still there). they ran a supervised workshop and also classes for younger kids. I worked all over but for a while, predominately in the class with severely handicapped from 16 -27 years of age.In this area of Dallas, It was primarily a very poor area. The school had a self-defense instructor come in and work with us.We had a severely handicapped boy who was also emotionally disturbed. I had also a sixteen year old boy who was taller than me and VERY strong. One day, he grabbed my wrist and clamped down so hard on it, I thought my wrist would break. I finally got him to release it.The emotionally disturbed boy was NEVER to be left alone, but the teacher I worked for..... Well, let's just say there is a special corner in hell reserved for this woman. She was lazy and abusive. While I was at a meeting, she left this boy alone in the bathroom. She would never follow the bathroom routine and would leave them wet and/or soiled until I came into the room to change them. Well, she left this boy alone in the bathroom with the door closed.I came in and asked where he was and when I went into the bathroom, I saw he had taken feces and smeared it everywhere! He had even thrown it up on the ceiling! I had to run to the window and get some air. This teacher thought it was funny (that's just the kind of monster she was). then she started talking about how she was " going to leave a little surprise " for the night maid. We got into it (as we often did) about it.When she took the kids to the bus, I donned a mask and gloves and cleaned everything up. Yes, I often complained to the principal about this woman but her thinking was " Well, we just can't find anyone else willing to take these kids. " They were supposed to teach them basic life skills so they wouldn't wind up in institutions if something happened to their legal guardians, but this " teacher " taught them nothing.I was a shy, reticent twenty year old back then and really knew nothing about how the real world worked. I knew nothing about going over the principal's head say to the media. Would it have made a difference back then? This was over thirty years ago. I have never forgotten the abusive way she treated those poor kids. If it were today.... I would have knocked the you know what out of this woman and sitting in jail for it if I had to would have been worth it.So I am so FOR two way windows so parents can check up on their kids. They will try to use HIPPA as a means not to have this, but I think parents who have non-verbal children in PPCD and other self-contained rooms should get together and agree. sign HIPPA waivers, raise the money to have these windows installed. It could be as cheap and simple as replacing the small windows in the doors, and these parents should be allowed to surprise visit --period.Or they should have a means where parents can link to the classroom via Skype and see what is really going on. I believe if schools think they can get away with not following IEP's and doing what they are supposed to be doing, then they will take the easiest route because most schools don't believe our kids or their futures matter. They just want the special ed dollars.So I do feel for these teachers who are not trained in dealing with violent kids, and I know there was one in my son's room at one time, and I got his doctor to write letters stating that my son was not to be around kids with violent behavior due to my son's propensity to imitate. I feel for the parents, because half the time when the kid flies off the handle, it is due to poorly trained teachers and staff who are clueless.It happened one day with my son who is very well behaved most of the time. But a lack of understanding regarding auditory processing disorder led my son to get frustrated and throw a desk. A lot of times bad behavior can come from sheer frustration on the part of the child.What I hate most is seeing these kids wind up in alternative school just because the schools don't understand ASD, and alternative schools are their easy solution. It is such a tragedy.Why is the parent monetarily liable for the bill if they bring up residential placement at an ARD? I thought if you have a paper trail that can prove they cannot appropriately handle the situation, the school is liable to provide one.

[Guest guest]

Oh you've just totally described a lot of our situation. They were training my son to be a criminal. They were telling him he was a criminal. He was in a classroom full of kids with behavioral issues...a lot of them were crack babies bussed in from the city. I have nothing against these kids. I volunteered in the classrom and had great relationships with them.My pooint is only that they have very specific behavior patterns and a lot of their symptoms were troublesome to my son's symptoms. Some of them knew how to be sneaky and would quietly bait my son...my son however is not quiet. If he's upset the whole town is gonna know. So because he'd yell or get mad, and the other kids were "only teasing" he was the one who always got in trouble. The teacher would openly make fun of him in a playful way and thought that was acceptable. My son has major anxiety about behaving apropriately and not being embarassed. So a real quick way to set him off is to tease him. She knew this, it was in the IEP, she had good intentions but always fell back to sarcasm and teasing. When you've got a student like my son you must be a professional all the time every time. His autism isn't taking a break, so you can't either. If you do, well expect that he'll react how he always does. I had a substitute who didn't even know my son was autistic or had an IEP grab him and humiliate him. So when he threw his pencil box they called the school officers on him. I had another teacher who was supposedly trained in dealing with autistic children... ok first I should say this is my son's m.o. If he's upset he'll start by kicking the legs of his desk a little. If he isn't de-escalated he'll then push his papers off his desk. If he isn't de-escalated he'll then throw his pencil box behind him. If he still isn't de-escalated and at this point he's usually also being repremanded, he'll swing his hands at you like he's going to hit you. If you grab him he will smack you in the arm or hand. ...this is 100% how he has reacted since pre-k. It was in his IEP. They were supposed to give him sensory breaks to prevent these issues...but also they ahd plans in place of what to do when these things happened. Not only was he NEVER provded sensory breaks, and was allowed to be teased incessantly, but they never followed the procedures we agreed apon in the IEP. So this one lady who was supposedly trained was in the classroom when he was getting upset he said "I feel like I'm going to hit you", that was a code we came up with in the IEP with him and the teachers. They were supposed to say "ok, do you want to go take a break in so and so's office?" and he was supposed to go to whomever's office was available and cool down. So when he said "I feel like I'm going to hit you" she got mad and said "Really, you want to hit me?!" then grabbed his arms and pulled him from his chair and lead him out of the classroom and out the back door of the school. He was terrified so he kicked at her. Then the oh so well trained teacher decided to try to restrain him...even though he wasn't approaching or touching her...he was kicking the air to let her know he was scared and cornered. So she improperly held him and scared him more, and since her hold wasn't effective he bit her and kicked her in the leg. She pressed charges on my son!!! We had to pay thousands of dollars to a lawyer and my son and whole family was very traumatized. Thankfully when I threatened to sue if the charges weren't dropped, they dropped the charges. The dammage had been done though. So my son had 5 years of that sort of training."we'll tell you to ask for help, but then we won't give it...and sometimes we'll punish you for it. It's ok if everyone messes with you and steals things from you, but if you react you are bad". Within three weeks at the new school with the properly trianed and caring people he did a huge turn around. He's had two PANDAS flares since then and had issues during them, and the school handled them 100% correctly, and he's getting back in gear. Nobody should ever ever stay at a school that is not doing what they should. It will nto work, and it will harm your child. do whatever you have to and move. We're paying for two houses right now waiting to sell the other, we had a tiny Christmas and my husband has had to be gone a lot to make ends meet...but it is worth it! I wish I'd done it years ago