Need a good school with Autism Program (Tampa: attorney, homes)

[FedUpMom2008]

I'm glad to know Im not the only one who is fed up (hence the name) with the FL public school system and district school board. Why nothing has been done before is beyond me - I know Attorney General McCollum is trying to change some things (check his website and 100ideas.org) about the treatment of students with disabilities.

Pasco County School board is ridiculous and take up for principals even when they lie or "omit" facts from parents. I was told by the ASI's office that we as parents have NO right to question a principal and their decision to keep information about things at school from us.

an example: Our 7 year old son is Autistic, and in a self contained class. He has no behavior problems, extremely smart but does not know any fear - he is unable to comprehend dangerous situations. It's in his IEP and even has extra adult supervision needed at all times at school.

An incident happened on the playground and her substitute assistant was gathering the other 7 children including my son who was up on the equipment.

It was really loud and his teacher was yelling for one of the other teachers out there to get her a walkie talkie to call in the office. My son was scared to death of the commotion and ran off the playground toward the front of the school. The teacher saw the direction he was heading and started yelling that a student was running off.
The teachers on the playground either didnt hear her or ignored her, until the aide left the children with the teacher and ran to get a radio.

My son was not found until later by the media specialist, so who knows where he went before the media center. I don't want to speculate - but he was probably in there the whole time.
He loves books and I'm thankful I make sure every morning when I walk my children to class we talk about the "clues" in the school if you get lost. Lunchroom, Media (library) office, butterfly garden, playground etc.

The principal told the teacher and asst. to tell me only certain facts of the events of the incident.
I said oh really? why. She said I was to be told this so I would not over react or call anyone over what happened. I was to be told that he ran off the playground and the media specialist intercepted him outside the center.

The teacher said I cannot lie and tell you something that did not happen, you deserve the truth. I asked the media specialist what happened and she confirmed what the teacher told me and added a bit more.

I called and complained to the school board. I was basically put in my place, degraded because I have homeschooled my son and told I was an interfering overprotective mother who was blowing things out of proportion. Even 1 minute of an Autistic child being lost is enough.

The man who came to get my son from the media specialist was loud and demanded to know who he was and why he was out of class; to the point he had an accident in his pants (which I wasn't supposed to know) and then the media speicalist said to the man - I think he's Autistic and doesn't understand you.

This school is absolutely ridiculous - they don't want me there because I don't believe in main streaming or play their school politics games and the principal can't control me like she does her teachers. She threatened to fire the teacher and put her under review if she told me anything else other than he had a good/bad day.

I questioned her the first day of school about parental involvement - we cannot volunteer and cannot be on school grounds before or after school. The first day of school there were around 100 parents waiting in the afternoon to talk to her about this.

She basically wants to control the school, lock the gates to the school and leave us parents in the dark about what goes on during the day.
I was told not to ever question what principal says; OMG what is the world is wrong with that.

I took the heat for my son being "lost". I'm now the overprotective, overjealous mother who likes to cause trouble by protecting her child to the fullest extent possible because he cannot defend himself. That's fine with me, I can take it and this wonderful teacher didn't get fired.

I am now on a "need to know basis" and will never be told if anything happens again. The school board backs this up and said that it's her choice if she tells a parent information or not.

WOW! what kind of rights do we have as parents then?

They're just mad because I stepped on their toes and called the FL Dept of Education.

I told them - if I wanted to cause trouble I would have complained when my 5 year old was lost by a sub the 3rd day of school. She came home told me what happened and explained how she and her friend followed the "clues" to get back to class that I've taught her. I made sure to go over safety rules and tell her that she did great remembering everything.

I talk to alot of parents, there is so much more going on at this school that it's scary. This is a school that has alot of special needs classes and students, they get tons of funding for these programs and are being allowed to treat children however they want and get away with it. Then they sweep it under the rug and chalk it up to us being suspicous parents.

A threat to be fired from the principal will ensure that we as parents will be kept in the dark until enough parents step foward and stop this kind of nonsense - lovely way to spend our tax dollars huh?

After talking with the Sheriff's Department (I had to tell them everything I knew including confidential information), they recommended I find another school.

I have no guarantee my son will be safe and that my children will not be mistreated for me doing my job as a parent.

Anyone have a suggestion or good experience with a school that has an Autism program?

[katrinajoy1]

Hi,
my name is Katrina and i currently attend Tampa Bay Christian Academy as a junior. Im really interested in helping autistic and other kids with disabilities such as dwarfism. I saw your article and felt led to respond. I currently help kindergartens, 1st graders and 2nd graders to eat lunch everyday as part of my Teascher Assistant. One of the kids i help with is an autistic boy. He has such a kind spirit and i look forward to seeing him everyday. Towards the end of their lunch the most precious kids with disabilities come in to eat lunch and they are soo adorable. However, i do not help out with them even though i hope to soon. I talk to the kids and have a special relationship with them and we greet each other everytime we pass. They all say that they love the school. I dont know if this is any help to you at all, but like i said I just felt led to respond to your posting. I hope everything works out for you and your son.
katrina shipe
[EMAIL="katrinajoy1@hotmail.com"]katrinajoy1@hotmail.com[/EMAIL]

[elitap]

Katrina,
I read your posting and went to Tampa Bay Christian Academy website, but I don't see any information on special needs classes. I am trying to find a christian school for my son with special needs.
I was just wondering about the school? Thanks.

[Jeninfla1964]

I have no real info for you, but I wanted to offer you a hug, your story brought tears to my eyes. There are a couple private schools in Pinellas that cater to special needs children. While searching, I found another thread in citydata about the subject....

//www.city-data.com/forum/tampa...lsborough.html

[annaegel]

Tampa Palms Elementary has a program. I believe it is for children with autism. Not sure if that is what your looking for. You may have the same hassle. I was not crazy about the administration for that school. I took my kids out of there and have them in a charter school. Have you check out charter schools? Maybe there are some for autism. I think USF has a program for diagnosing autism. I think there is a support system associated with them. Perhaps they can recommend a good school.

[domenesa]

Why did you not like the administration? I was just getting ready to check that school out tomorrow for my 8 yr old who is having trouble at the learning gate who won't give him the support( an aid he needs due to money) He is very adhd and mild autism. can't focus, needs help with social skills etc. Does that school have 2 teachers in one classroom? Fl does suck for schools. It is devastating for our children. Please e-mail me @ [EMAIL="saidahd@yahoo.com"]saidahd@yahoo.com[/EMAIL]. Thank you

[Ella Strong]

What ever happened with your son. My story is exactly like yours. It sounds like I wrote this. My son is in seventh grade in a pasco county school. It has been a nightmare with him being bullied by students and teachers. I contacted the new Superident Kurt Browning from pasco school. Last year I contacted news channel eight. I may have to do that again this week. It's unfortunate the stress our children and us are enduring because of the inability of other teachers not taking a stand and speak up for the students being bullied.

[pinellas grown]

If you are still looking for great schools for the disabled community in the Pinellas or Pasco area check out Esther's school. My child is on the spectrum and is attending one of there campuses they have, and they have a great program. They
are continuing to grow and expand as a family unit. It is a self paced Christian private school that is funded by scholarship and donations.

[bentlebee]

Thomas E Weightman middle school used to have a program for gifted kids and they had a lot of gifted kids.

One of my kids was in the advanced gifted kids for kids that had a tested in the higher bracket and therefore could receive advanced learning and they shared the hallway with gifted kids.

I assume they will still have it and often we would see some of the kids at the local Publix where some of the gifted kids got jobs.