Suit: Teen with autism was abused in school

My heart goes out to this child and his family. I adopted a child with Autism. IPS has the same issues with under-trained staff. IPS will not even recognize my son's diagnosis, even with documentation from his doctor. I shudder to think how my child is going to be dealt with when he starts school next year at School 79.

I feel sorry for parents of autistic children. They want their children to be as "normal", whatever that means, as the rest of the children. But until medical science can cure autism, most of these children should not be put into the mainstream of society. Most of these children cannot function and adapt sufficiently to be part of society as we know it. There are special educational facilities for these children and should be used. Although teachers and aides are sent to special training on how to handle "special education" students, they are not experts and should not be held responsible for mishandling a situation. There is a thing called "Tough Love" and some parents need to exhit it.

Students with special needs are just that. Trying to "mainstream" them is a lose-lose situation; the mainstream students lose learning opportunities while teachers make accommodations for the special needs students and the special needs students lose the low student-teacher ratio necessary to enhance their learning. Unfortunately, the special needs student is often resented by classmates who taunt or shun them. As always, it's detrimental to many students to categorize them as a homogenous entity. It's also more difficult for a small school system yo provide an appropriate range of instruction. Maybe distance learning could be structured for special needs and also for "gifted" instruction.

Thank Goodness some parents are starting to bring this to a head. I have a grandson in Wayne Township school district and he has a slight case of ASB, Asberger Syndrom(Austism) and he also becomes agitated when confronted. I had a teacher last year at Chapel Glen who had told me personally on the phone she was going to restrain him. I had advised her at that point if you do you will make matters worse. Now this was an LD teacher with supposely years of training. She proceeded to tell me every day and almost every week how bad my grandson was, but the teachers aid and my grandson had a good rapport and got along fine. The previous year he had a wonderful LD Teacher with years of training and she was the best. I had told the Supt., Terry Thomspon of Wayne Twshp if all LD teachers were like Nancy Culver these children would have a chance in school. She made the school room calm, which she used her own money and her own items, and had patience. I think all LD teachers need to go through extensive training every year and take tests themselves to see where they are .

This child should not be in the regular classroom. Such students distract from the orderly educational process that should be taking place in the classroom. This does the child with the disabilty no favors and impacts the regular ed student in a negative manner.

I personally do not have a child with autism, but I do have one with ADD/ADHD and aggressive disorder along with a communication disorder. I had an incident where Little People's Prep restrained him and when he refused to be held down, they held him so tightly that they bruised him in several different places. When confronted about it, they said that they were trying to keep him under control and that if I did not like it, put him on medication. Funny how the school was shut down recently. So I know how this family feels when a child is singled out in a learning enviroment. Good luck with the lawsuit.

This is the kind of thing that will continue to happen until proper training is provided to educators and law enforcement personnel. The rate of autism increased significantly in the early 90's and now these kids are becoming teens and adults. More and more of these are at risk of harm, even form those entrusted with their safety.

Jim Donnelly
Autism One.

This is going to become much more common as the rates skyrocket. 1 out of 166 now are being diagnosed.

Not enough info in the article to make a judgement, though it shows that there are some districts in desperate need of training.

Max wrote:

This child should not be in the regular classroom. Such students distract from the orderly educational process that should be taking place in the classroom. This does the child with the disabilty no favors and impacts the regular ed student in a negative manner.

So, we should exclude them from the benefits provided to every other child? Perhaps we should ban them from public view as well? I'm afraid I find your view to be very short-sighted. He has every right to be any environment he or his family chooses.

Nice to see the large number of bigots and idiots who read the Star online.

People who think children with autism and other disabilities should not be in regular classrooms are so narrow minded. While my son has not been diagnosed with autism he has been diagnosed ADHD with ODD(oppisional defiant disorder) and he has a siezure disorder. Should I not put him in a regular school because of this? It is my understanding that our teachers are trained to teach children and just because some students are differant does not make them exempt. I hope this suit goes well for this family and that our educators will wake up and take their job seriously. Teach because you love children and want to make a differance and not because you have some control issue.

My 13 year old was DX'd with ADD/ADHD when she was 8 years old. We played the game w/ concerta, and about a dozen other zombie like inducing drugs.
To be quite honest with you, the best medicine for her has turned out to be patience on our part (parents), and plenty of structured activity to keep her mind busy.(piano, viola,guitar lessons).
I could not stand how she was so inanimate w/ the drugs. I am happy to say that she has not had any meds for 3.5 years, and she is an honors student, gifted musician, and socially active.
Yeah we have a few rounds from time to time when it gets the best of her and the tantrums start, and the mouth and uncooperation, but tell me what 13 year old child doesnt.
Unless it is an EXTREME case of clinically diagnosed add/ adhd, meds should not be used.
Sorry for the highjack, as for the subject at hand, if the teachers can not deal with a special needs child, then they do not need to be teaching those types of students. What a way to show these children with a medical illness about social acceptance and equality, by tying them down, taping their mouths shut, and such.
And as far as the students exposed to it, they should be exposed, so they know how to act in response.

No child should be isolated for that much time. If the child was a problem why weren't the parents asked to remove him for his own benefit and well being? Teachers are there to TEACH not babysit. Special needs children should be where they can get the right attention for their condition.

I bet my Autistic son was in that Chapel Glen class two years ago and that teacher has no business being with ANY child!!! No one hears , no one listens... It is a real travesty!

WaterDog Prairie Grove wrote:

<quoted text>No they should have there own school where the teachers all of them are trained in the care and teaching of these extraordinary children because lets face it most public schools can't or won't take the time if they have more than 1 or 2 special needs children !! And i'm talking about children with autism !

My son is diagnosed with Autism... he is in a public school system which luckily appears Ohio has a bit of a better grasp on special needs than Indiana. I'm not sure how it is there.. but here.. there are a few special needs schools, however..the tuition to put your child into these schools is anywhere from $35-$80,000 per school year. There are no scholarships, there are no reasonable payment plans when most of us are already putting out over $30,000 per year on medical expenses for things that are not covered by insurance. Every child is entitled to free and appropriate education through the public school system. With the diagnosis of Autism anywhere from 1 in every 166 children born to 1 in every 99, the school district will need to adapt. If you are truly concerned though, contact your Congressmen and tell them to push for more research funding for Autism so that they can find something to help our children.

WaterDog Prairie Grove wrote:

Public school is no place for these children . For one thing teachers can't and won't deal with them as a whole they don't have the time . Dealing with children with a severe handicap should be done at a special school so teachers have the time and the means to do it . And where the other children can not be mean or poke fun at them which happens alot of the time because teachers are not always there to keep a eye on them .

I would think that this would force parents to teach their children to be more accepting and supporting of those in the special needs community as well as anyone who is different. Maybe if society taught their children to be kind to others and not pick or torment other children whether they be special needs, overweight, nerdy, different...we wouldn't have the need for so many anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications when the ones being picked on get older. Maybe instances where children are killing other children would no longer be an issue...oh to live in a perfect world..one can dream I suppose.

Jim Donnelly wrote:

<quoted text>
So, we should exclude them from the benefits provided to every other child? Perhaps we should ban them from public view as well? I'm afraid I find your view to be very short-sighted. He has every right to be any environment he or his family chooses.

I am a high school English teacher who had no special education training. In a class of 25-30 students, I have had autistic children screaming, barking, pacing, pulling out their leg hair, and sticking their hands down their pants in class. These are high school students. I agree with the writers who say these students are not going to "make it" in the "real world" as we know it. Many of them cannot write sentences, and have no hope of passing the GQE. So until you've walked a mile, don't criticize. It's sad and frustrating for parents, but this is not a mild disability. This behavior completely destroys any ability to work in a 51 minute period. If the parents of the general education students were as vocal and litigious and the special education community, we would see a complete pendulum swing. Yes, all children can learn, but not the same things, at the same time, in the same environment.

Most of the comments so far assume that the school system is in the wrong here.
although I can't speak to this families allegations. I do have a autistic grandson in the same school system and he has gotten excellent care. They have always been concerned about his care and keep his parents informed of any problem. They have also been open to any suggestions that will improve his school and learning experience.
It seems a shame that the possibility of an isolated incident makes the school system appear to be wallowing in the dark ages.

It's too bad the school officials always have to follow legal advice and stay "mum" about the facts. The facts are that these people have been looking for a chance to sue and get some cash. And for the attorney's comment that the school district has a history of problems in this area....it's true, the district has been sued before...but won the case.
Just like this episode, the papers and TV reported the suit...but not the outcome.
"Inclusion" sounds great, but in practice, it's a disaster for public education.

Lori wrote:

<quoted text>
I am a high school English teacher who had no special education training. In a class of 25-30 students, I have had autistic children screaming, barking, pacing, pulling out their leg hair, and sticking their hands down their pants in class. These are high school students. I agree with the writers who say these students are not going to "make it" in the "real world" as we know it. Many of them cannot write sentences, and have no hope of passing the GQE. So until you've walked a mile, don't criticize. It's sad and frustrating for parents, but this is not a mild disability. This behavior completely destroys any ability to work in a 51 minute period. If the parents of the general education students were as vocal and litigious and the special education community, we would see a complete pendulum swing. Yes, all children can learn, but not the same things, at the same time, in the same environment.

I have an autistic child in Greencastle School System. I hope you are not teaching in this school system. You are very short sighted. I have always felt blessed that we were in a school system that looked out for the best interests for my son. While I agree with your last statement on learning, I will say this is true of all children not just austic kids. These issues stem from schools expecting and demanding perfect cookie cutter children.I suppose we could take out all of the kids with learning disabilities from the public school systems and place them in their own schools. Wouldn't it make your job easier? Lets get rid of everyone but the 'normal' kids. This seems to be the pattern of this forum. Parents of autistic child have a special cross to bear.As for these kids never making it in the real world...this is real world. Austism cases are growing.We cannot turn our heads and make it disappear. Walk a mile in my shoes...I think you might have a different viewpoint.