Re: Autistic boy voted out of class???

[Guest guest]

There is a child that played on my step-sons little league team last year. I

suspect that he has a combination of autism and adhd. He is always throwing a

fit in the dug out. Screaming, rips at his hair so much that they shave him bald

now.

He was so disappointed at the loss of one game that he refused to run laps

with the rest of the children.

One of the coach's on the team is he is Dad.

In an exercise to teach him team work they were having all of the kids run

back and forth together and he continued to walk.

Finally the coach's told the kids to confront him and tell them what they

think of him.

The kids started shoving him and yelling at him.

It was a horrible thing to watch.

After the incident, to which I was very vocally calling it innapropriate and

damaging while sitting in the stands with the other parents - all of NT kids.

They for the most part diasagreed with me!

The child at the time was 11 years old. He came to every game and played his

heart out. The best catcher in our league, by FAR.

However, when spoken to negatively or harshley he took it like a beating. Time

and time again he was kicked out of the dug out - left sitting by himself in

tears.

At the end of the peer preasure exercise he sat with his head between his

knees, completely defeated.

I have never seen a child so passionate become so small. I hope that the

belief behind this behavior will stop. This is not an intervention, it is a

complete breakdown of a human being's spirit.

This child is 12 this year, and I have yet to see him smile in a game like he

did before this incident.

He still plays baseball; however, he does not love it like he used to. He has

become one of the many there to play because daddy wants him too, what a shame.

If you have watched a little league game, AAA or Majors you know what I am

talking about. The kid that steals every base he can without hesitation.

Everytime he swung the bat it was with everything he had. That pride when they

throw out the runner at second base, and that disappointment when they are the

one thrown out.

Then there are the ones who hapheartedly play. Swinging way late at the ball.

Looking off into the skate park while a fly ball is coming their way. Jogging to

the next base, certain they are out and unwilling to try.

The sheer ignorance of autisim and how to deal with it amazes me every day.

Having been on the brunt side of this, I have felt the true pain that comes with

it. I only hope that the little boys spirit has not been completly crushed.

Here's to raising awareness amoung NT's about autisim and there are different

ways in dealing with us. STOP THE ABUSE!

http://speakup.today.com

chezmark2002 wrote:

Port St. Lucie, Florida mother says her five-year-old special needs

son

was voted out of his classroom by his peers at the behest of the

teacher.

Five-year-old Barton will be starting his summer vacation early.

His mother doesn't want him to to return to school after what allegedly

happened in class at Morningside Elementary Wednesday afternoon.

" I'll never be able to send him to school again without worrying if

something is going to happen, " said Barton.

She admits he's had behavior problems, and can be difficult at times,

and says he's undergoing tests to determine if he suffers from autism

and other disorders.

Barton claims a Wednesday incident pushed the lines of discipline into

the realm of abuse.

" She took him and stood him in front of his classmates this week, asked

every single child to tell why we don't like him, in his words,

tell why we hate him, " she explained.

After having each child ridicule the boy, she says the teacher continued

belittling him.

" Then they had a vote on if he deserved to stay in the class or not, "

said Barton.

Like a twisted reality show, Barton says in a 14-2 vote, his classmates

voted the five-year-old out of the classroom.

" I never thought she would subject my child to such mental abuse, " she

said.

Barton filed complaints with the Department of Children and Families and

police.

After conferring with the State Attorney's office, police found no

grounds for charges, but the school district is investigating the

incident and these teaching practices.

Barton suspects other students may have suffered as well.

" If other parents who have this teacher or have had this teacher, come

forward talk to your kids because this is wrong, " Barton said.

The St. Lucie County school district is investigating the incident and

released a statement Tuesday morning that reads:

" Ms. Portillo (the teacher) has been reassigned outside of the classroom

at the district offices until any further action may be determined. "

[Guest guest]

We have an awesome Challenger baseball program in our town. There are

kids from all ability levels -- great athletes who have social

difficulties, to little guys who need someone to hold the bat for them.

Our coach teaches all the kids how to improve their skills. We've got 4

teams going. Our kids could never go near a NT baseball game. Our

coach built a place for them where they love baseball, they love

playing, they're learning teamwork, etc. They have a blast. And the

parents are very, very supportive of each other and cheer all the kids.

I hope the boy in your post finds a great bunch of people to play ball

with, just like we did.

-- Cassie

wrote:

> There is a child that played on my step-sons little league team last

> year. I suspect that he has a combination of autism and adhd. He is

> always throwing a fit in the dug out. Screaming, rips at his hair so

> much that they shave him bald now.

>

> He was so disappointed at the loss of one game that he refused to run

> laps with the rest of the children.

>

> One of the coach's on the team is he is Dad.

>

> In an exercise to teach him team work they were having all of the kids

> run back and forth together and he continued to walk.

>

> Finally the coach's told the kids to confront him and tell them what

> they think of him.

>

> The kids started shoving him and yelling at him.

>

> It was a horrible thing to watch.

>

> After the incident, to which I was very vocally calling it

> innapropriate and damaging while sitting in the stands with the other

> parents - all of NT kids. They for the most part diasagreed with me!

>

> The child at the time was 11 years old. He came to every game and

> played his heart out. The best catcher in our league, by FAR.

>

> However, when spoken to negatively or harshley he took it like a

> beating. Time and time again he was kicked out of the dug out - left

> sitting by himself in tears.

>

> At the end of the peer preasure exercise he sat with his head between

> his knees, completely defeated.

>

> I have never seen a child so passionate become so small. I hope that

> the belief behind this behavior will stop. This is not an

> intervention, it is a complete breakdown of a human being's spirit.

>

> This child is 12 this year, and I have yet to see him smile in a game

> like he did before this incident.

>

> He still plays baseball; however, he does not love it like he used to.

> He has become one of the many there to play because daddy wants him

> too, what a shame.

>

> If you have watched a little league game, AAA or Majors you know what

> I am talking about. The kid that steals every base he can without

> hesitation. Everytime he swung the bat it was with everything he had.

> That pride when they throw out the runner at second base, and that

> disappointment when they are the one thrown out.

>

> Then there are the ones who hapheartedly play. Swinging way late at

> the ball. Looking off into the skate park while a fly ball is coming

> their way. Jogging to the next base, certain they are out and

> unwilling to try.

>

> The sheer ignorance of autisim and how to deal with it amazes me every

> day. Having been on the brunt side of this, I have felt the true pain

> that comes with it. I only hope that the little boys spirit has not

> been completly crushed.

>

> Here's to raising awareness amoung NT's about autisim and there are

> different ways in dealing with us. STOP THE ABUSE!

>

> http://speakup.today.com <http://speakup.today.com>

>

> chezmark2002 <cmsommerfeld@...

> <mailto:cmsommerfeld%40hotmail.com>> wrote:

> Port St. Lucie, Florida mother says her five-year-old special needs son

> was voted out of his classroom by his peers at the behest of the

> teacher.

>

> Five-year-old Barton will be starting his summer vacation early.

>

> His mother doesn't want him to to return to school after what allegedly

> happened in class at Morningside Elementary Wednesday afternoon.

>

> " I'll never be able to send him to school again without worrying if

> something is going to happen, " said Barton.

>

> She admits he's had behavior problems, and can be difficult at times,

> and says he's undergoing tests to determine if he suffers from autism

> and other disorders.

>

> Barton claims a Wednesday incident pushed the lines of discipline into

> the realm of abuse.

>

> " She took him and stood him in front of his classmates this week, asked

> every single child to tell why we don't like him, in his words,

> tell why we hate him, " she explained.

>

> After having each child ridicule the boy, she says the teacher continued

> belittling him.

>

> " Then they had a vote on if he deserved to stay in the class or not, "

> said Barton.

>

> Like a twisted reality show, Barton says in a 14-2 vote, his classmates

> voted the five-year-old out of the classroom.

>

> " I never thought she would subject my child to such mental abuse, " she

> said.

>

> Barton filed complaints with the Department of Children and Families and

> police.

>

> After conferring with the State Attorney's office, police found no

> grounds for charges, but the school district is investigating the

> incident and these teaching practices.

>

> Barton suspects other students may have suffered as well.

>

> " If other parents who have this teacher or have had this teacher, come

> forward talk to your kids because this is wrong, " Barton said.

>

> The St. Lucie County school district is investigating the incident and

> released a statement Tuesday morning that reads:

>

> " Ms. Portillo (the teacher) has been reassigned outside of the classroom

> at the district offices until any further action may be determined. "

>

>