Parents suing Muskegon-area school district for allegedly strapping son into cha

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http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=132397 & catid=2

Parents suing Muskegon-area school district for allegedly strapping son into

chair

Matt Updated:9/23/2010 5:17:29 PM - Posted: 9/23/2010 5:09:38 PM

NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WZZM) -- The parents of a former Ross Park Elementary

student claim their son was illegally strapped into a chair for hours at a time.

Alan and Holden of Fruitport Township moved out of the district because

of the alleged abuse their son, Ethan, experienced.

The parents' lawyer this month filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Grand

Rapids.

They allege that in 2008, Ethan, a three-year old autistic child, was enrolled

in Ross Park's " Jump Start on Education " program.

Holden says in December of that year she made an unannounced visit to her

child's classroom and found him strapped to a chair. Holden told WZZM 13 News

the chair resembled a booster seat that attaches to a chair.

Holden says school employees told her they used the chair to keep Ethan from

moving around the room during instruction, and that sometimes that meant he was

strapped to the chair for most of the day.

Mona Shores District Superintendent Terry Babbitt was reached by phone for

comment. He said the district has hired a Grand Rapids law firm to handle the

case, and that at this time he could not comment about the claims made against

the district.

Reported by Jon Mills in Norton Shores