Lincoln, boy’s mother argue over his proper education placement

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Lincoln, boy's mother argue over his proper education placement

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

By MICHAEL P. McKINNEY

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE –– A federal magistrate judge has heard arguments in the long-running

saga of where to educate Azar, 12, a Lincoln boy with Asperger's syndrome

whose mother and the Lincoln School Committee are battling over the appropriate

learning environment for him.

The School Committee Monday asked Magistrate Judge to affirm the

finding of a hearing officer last year that Bradley Hospital's day school is an

appropriate placement for , while his mother, Pamela Azar, asked that

Bradley be determined inappropriate.

Azar's lawyer, Savage, cited experts testimony that — whose

Asperger's Syndrome heightens his sensitivity — may be exposed at Bradley to

children whose actions could trigger anxiety in him and impede his school

progress.

School Committee lawyer D. Henneous cited testimony that Bradley offers a

therapeutic component that schools recommended by Azar do not.

, who was home-schooled for the last two years by his mother, is now

attending Wolf School in East Providence for a 45-day period and Pamela Azar

says the school is proving to be the right fit. He has not yet been offered

admission.