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Motherneeds to be speaking toCPS about neglect. This has been serious and gone on too long. The child needs to be where his needs are being met, school or otherwise.
You said that the Mother had neglected to follow up w/ the recommendations for this child for years...She obviously is still neglecting to do the right thing, again your many examples of failing to follow through w/ behavioral modifications at home...etc..Just one example, and after weeks of ongoing difficulties she forgets his IEP...Who forgets their child's IEP meetings?? I was referring to the many examples you've given of this Mother not doing the right thing for this child. So, I suggested Child Protection Services...This Mother needs to be educated and perhaps even mandated to do the right things for this child.
You said that the Mother had neglected to follow up w/ the recommendations for this child for years...She obviously is still neglecting to do the right thing, again your many examples of failing to follow through w/ behavioral modifications at home...etc..Just one example, and after weeks of ongoing difficulties she forgets his IEP...Who forgets their child's IEP meetings?? I was referring to the many examples you've given of this Mother not doing the right thing for this child. So, I suggested Child Protection Services...This Mother needs to be educated and perhaps even mandated to do the right things for this child.
When I read your post I thought that you meant that the Mother should refer the school for neglect. Thus my confusion.
Referring Mom to CPS has been discussed. However, the child comes to school fed, clean, well rested and unbruised. He lives in a safe neighborhood. We do not believe that there is drug and alcohol use in the home. In my metropolitan area that is significantly better than many, many children.
Her only problem is that she is in denial of the seriousness of her son's behavioral difficulties and the severity of his autism. The teacher felt that they made a real breakthough today. Mom finally admitted that she knew that he really did have some problems in addition to being cognitively delayed.
Who forgets IEP meetings?! Obviously you have not taught in Title One schools. I have seen the gamut. Lots of parents are, "no shows", whether it is because they could not get off work, or forgot, or could not read the paperwork...who knows. And parents who just completely blow off the fact that their child is disabled. Believe me, I have seen some really strange parents. Parents of Deaf children, who don't bother to learn sign language, at all! Parents of blind children, who think that their kids don't need long canes...parents of mentally retarded kids who think that their kids are just slow learners....with bad teachers!
Wow! I really need to vent. I am sorry but it is a very long vent, but I really need to express it.
I'm a retired special education teacher (and now I'm a substitute teacher) in an excellent school district with excellent special education services. In fact, many families would move to our school district just because of the excellent special education programs.
It has always annoyed and upset me that there is a double standardin education regarding who is hit, kicked, bit or otherwise injured by a special education student. Time after time I have observed special education teachers or aides being hurt by out of control or emotionally disturbed students and we are usually told "It comes with the territory" or "It is part of your job" or "Just make sure that the other students don't get hurt" or something similar.
I personally have been injured severely enough to need crutches for six weeks and an arm brace for a different eight week period but was still able to work with those injuries. I was also disabled and off of work for a month due to a back injury. In each of these cases it was due to being stuck or kicked by an out of control student who needed to be on medication but wasn't or in one case the child had been on medication but the parent abrupted stopped the medication, against the advice of the doctor, without informing the school. Just to clarify, I definitely do not believe that all special education or all hyperactive or even all violent students need medication, but some students do need medications and to stay on the medications prescribed by their doctors. But my vent really isn't about medication except the the parent has told the school that "she doesn't believe in medication".
Other special education teachers, aides and therapists have been injured as well. One was kicked hard enough by an autistic student that bone in her leg was cracked, and aide received a broken bone in her arm from a student. Thankfully major injuries were/are very rare but minor injuries and bruises were/are daily events.
II have seen it happen frequently where a special education student has hurt special education staff and special education peers and nothing was done about it except to tell the special ed teacher that they were not doing a good enough job with that student. However, on the very rare occasion that a regular education teacher or student is hit, kicked, bite, struck or whatever administrators immediately get involved and discipline, suspend or transfer the student.
Continuing my vent I have a specific situation to share that made my blood boil! It is difficult to completely explain while still keeping it confidential, but I'll try. I'm even changing some details but giving you the general idea.
Last year I was a substitute special education teacher's aide for several weeks while the school district was trying to find someone to accept the position as a 1 to 1 aide with an extremely difficult to handle student with autism, mental retardation and other problems. I returned to sub aide again for several weeks when the person hired quit after a week. After the new person hired quit after a couple of weeks I was again hired as the substitute 1 to 1 aide for this student until they could find a third person to take the job. The only reason that I kept coming back was that I felt sorry for the special education teacher, other classroom aides and other special education students as they were getting hit, kicked, pushed, etc on a daily basis.
The special education teacher documented everything and followed all the procedures and didn't get any help and assistance. After a while the teacher LITERALLY BEGGED the psychologist and director of special education to observe the student as he was exceptionally complex and difficult to teach and she wanted help. Meanwhile, everyone involved with this student, special education bus drivers, aides, therapists, peers etc. were getting bruised and battered on a regular basis. This went on for almost 9 months.
Now to my main vent.
He returned to school after the summer with even more behavior problems (and his fourth 1 to 1 aide had resigned). Unfortunitely, he was now attempting to strike his special education classmates more than his usual target, the adults. Again the teacher asked for assistance in planning for this child and was basically ignored apparently because it was "only special education staff and students being hurt."
Yesterday, he hit a regular education peer while he was included in regular education music class. Within one hour the principal & director of special education had scheduled an autism specialist to come to the classroom, observe the child and assist in creating a different behavioral plan. Within three hours plans were being made to totally change his placement to 100% 1 to 1 with no contact with other students. Today, less than 24 hours after he hit a regular education peer both the psychologist and the director of special education came to his special education classroom to observe him.
Hmmm, almost nine months of hitting, kicking, slapping, throwing objects at special education staff and special education peers and nothing was done by administration but action was taken immediately when he hit a regular education peer.
Again, sorry for this very long rant but this really doesn't seem right.
Thank you for letting me vent.
This was my original vent. I was substitute teaching in high school (moderate and severe CD) special education classroom today. During lunch time the teacher's aides and I started to talk about our biggest pet peeves in special education.
They talked about a former (severe CD) student that was extremely aggressive. The female aide said that he even grabbed her by the throat one time and it was hard enough to leave bruises on her neck. They said that hitting, grabbing and pushing special education teachers, aides and his special education peers was a daily occurance with this student. They said that for months they tried to get him transferred out of the public school or at least get extra assistance, training or support for them/him but administration did nothing.
They told me that one day he hit a girl in regular education when he was getting his lunch in the cafeteria (of course, with an aide). He was immediately suspended and the next day transferred to a more appropriate setting (a different, less inclusive school).
If only we could tell the parents of the other special education students what really happens in the classroom.
That is tricky. I know as a teacher, especially in SPED, my classroom had an "open door" policy, parents are welcome at any time. Then, they can their own conclusions about peers, placement, and even IEP goals.
Encourage parents to come for a day. Or even a few hours.
Update: Mom came in today and met with the teacher and principal and plans to visit the new school (an alternative school specifically designed for children with severe behavior problems) next week. Mom appears to be accepting of the change in placement. Even if she refuses the district is still going ahead with the transfer (but obviously it will be quicker & easier if Mom is happy with the transfer).
Also, the teacher paid to see a doctor for the sore on her hand. It was infected and she is now on antibiotics
Nov. 5 update:
Mom visited the new school last Tuesday. No one knows if she liked it or not as she has not answered her phone or returned any of the phone calls/notes from the teacher and principal since then. Everyone suspects that Mom didn't like it and isn't answering her phone because she is worried that the school district will force the transfer.
His new aide is working out very well. She went from a charter school where she was the teacher of 30 children with 15 having special needs and NO aide or assistance to being a 1 to 1 special education aide for about the same pay and more benefits. She is "happy as a clam" and has some great ideas. The student's behavior has improved a little. Because the aide is new the student has been less resistant to changes in his routine that she started (changes planned by the teacher). For example he is now sitting on the toilet a few times a day and he had refused to do that with any of the previous staff. The new aide is not "burned out" because of his behavior so seems more positive towards him.
When the autism specialist came to observe the student she had a few ideas but her main suggestion was to transfer him out of the public school into a more restrictive setting (school for children with severe behavior problems). The autism specialist felt very strongly about that.
The sores on the teacher's hands have healed since she took the antibiotics.
BTW: We also have an open door policy, too, but very few parents come to observe. Usually it is because they are happy with the programs and how much their children are learning
I'll update if there are any big changes. Thanls again for all of your suggestions.
Last edited by germaine2626; 11-05-2012 at 06:04 PM..
Good news update:
Mom has agreed to allow the transfer to the new special school. She finally agreed because our district told her that her son was welcome to come back to his neighborhood school when his behavior was "under control".
They weren't sure how long Mom thinks that will be. Most students who are transferred to this special school need to stay about two years before their behavior is improved enough to go back to a regular public school (in special education).
The transfer is expected to take place within two weeks.
I have worked with ED/BD students for over ten years. I believe every child deserves and education. BUT there needs to be guideline changes both on the state and federal level regarding IDEA. We have given too many considerstions and rights regarding special needs kids in class. I'm limiting my concerns/complains to children who the full congnitive ablility to understand the chioces they make . We are so concerned about hurting their feelings or making parents mad. Being sued has become commom place. I see the teachers being deemed as ineffctive,staff portrayed as neglegent instead of being supported by administration. Theres a BIG differance in a student who acts out violently or repeatedly being Disruptive because they dont want to do the work,be told no,dont get their way,enjoy being disruptive and fully are aware of their choices. Than those like a truely ED student have a meltdown over something . Those episodes are really a "manifestation of thie disability" What a crutch that term has become. Changes must be in place. Guidelines regarding ability to understand the behavior and frequency of repeat students with that ability need addressing. If you act out violently ,repeatedly and staff are doing as they should then those kids need to be home schooled. ITS CALLED PUBLIC SCHOOL. Parents need to be held more accountable,services provided etc.. I fully understand,sympathize but WE ALL need a safe learning enviroment. I am fully CPI/MAT trained and rarely use it due to the hassle of having to explain why I used seclusion/restraint to admin/lawyer/parent when their child attack me or staff. I've had every conceivable injury, incident,.Bites,scratches,hit,kicked,furniture thrown ... the list goes on and on. And now we have let them tear up the room,ARE not allowed to stop them by touching them unless in EXTREME danger . IS OK to be abused verbally,emotionally,physically by this group of kids . ALL because of the unrealistic IDEA regulations regarding what can and cant be done by staff. With those kids ,they dont care,dont want to be there and quit frequently are empowered by the parent.I realize the changes were made because some bad apples ruined it for all of us and hurt a child or worse somewhere. I have never injured a child in over Ten years and have Hundreds of physically agressive encounters.I'm good at what I do and more often than not descalate long before it gets out of control.But now are hands are so severely tied with the guidlines that disiplining an acting out child who fully is aware of their actions is nearly impossible or ineffective.They know it and they know schools limitations and run amoke. I never forget thats why we have them but at what point is enough. and its not ok for the adults to get hurt period. I think a claus needs to be in place stating that if so in so acts out over and over,physically agressive repeatedly they need to meet some sort of criteria to bee in class. certain number of days without being violent, ability to expell indefinately in severe cases,long term suspension. The real world doesnt provide special concessions and they needto understand that they have learn a way to cope,cooperate to ensure they are able to suceed. All the while,weed out those who have no business working with special needs kids, train those who do properly and support them. J. Choate Crisis Intervention OK.
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