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Originally Posted by Conifer  Judging by where it is on your son's arm, I would say that he was grabbed and maybe quickly pulled away from something or someone. My only hope would be that maybe he was pulled away from hurting someone else or himself.
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Trust me- I can understand this. If ds had been about to hurt himself or someone else and a teacher needed to quickly intervene and grabbed him to get him out of the way.... fine. It's NOT okay to leave a mark like that, but at least it explains it. I would fully expect, in that situation, to be told about it. Even a quick "Hey- your ds was about to (insert whatever) so I had to grab him away. I grabbed harder than I thought so it might have left a mark". Still- not acceptable. But at least it would explain it. I got no such explanation.
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Originally Posted by Tigerchild This facility may not be the best place for your son, if the caregivers can't deal with his autism. I know that it's pretty much the only place for him right now it sounds like so that you can work there, and it's a convenience placement all around...but please realize that I think asking folks who are not trained in how to deal with special needs kids especially in the early childhood all day daycare setting to "get" your son is really asking too much in many pragmatic ways.
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I talked to my boss before I was hired about ds's special needs. I made it very clear that if they didn't think they could handle it, don't hire me. I've had talks with my boss many times over the last couple years asking if ds was getting to be too much or if they didn't think they could handle him. She ALWAYS assures me that he's fine, the teachers can deal with him, no problem. The 2 teachers who were in his room yesterday have been at this daycare for about 8-10 years. They've had special needs kids in there before. They've had training on special needs, autism in particular. I'm not just throwing him in a room with a high school senior out to make a couple bucks.
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| Do you guys have a requirement in your state for continuing ed for licensing? |
Yes. We all take a certain number of classes every year (last year was 5, this year it's 7). We usually all take the classes together. Last year was a class on autism specifically. This year I know the majority of the workers took a class on sensory issues. While they are in NO WAY experts on autism or sensory issues, they do have *some* training. They also know they can come ask me at any time if they need help or if they just want to know how to handle something. His one teacher (the main teacher) is really good about asking me how to do something or why ds is doing something.
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Originally Posted by holothuroidea Could you go to a day care where people are trained to work with autistic children?
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If I could find a daycare like that, I'd be in heaven
Unfortunately, no. There is one daycare/preschool that is attached to a rehab hospital here. DS has gone there for therapy for almost 2 years. I applied for a job there (at the daycare/preschool), and would have had it, but was told my ds couldn't come. Why? Not because they didn't want a mother/child pair there but because of his autism. Yup, they came right out and said they didn't think they could handle him. WTF?!? This was at a place that catered to therapy for special needs children and my son with autism wasn't welcome. I told them to kiss my a$$ when they suggested I put ds in another daycare to go work for them
As for an update.... when I went in this morning I talked to the regular teacher in his room. She said she has no idea how he got that mark. So I talked to the assistant director and she too had no idea. She said it wasn't on him, that she knew of, when she left at 3:00. The other teacher who was in there yesterday wasn't there today and won't be back until next week (she only works at the daycare 2 days a week). The assistant director said she would call and leave a message on that teachers voice mail but she was working all day at another job. The director/owner is gone until Tuesday on a trip but her husband was there today so I talked to him about it. He agreed that it is not acceptable at all to leave a mark on a child. It is completely unacceptable to do that and then not even tell the parent about it or how it happened. He was shocked to see the mark and doesn't know how it got there or why. He said they will definitely talk to the other teacher by tomorrow. If I'm not satisfied with the answer that teacher has, the owner will review the tapes with me to see if we can figure out what happened.
There are cameras everywhere in the daycare- each room, the playground, by the front door, etc. There are a few places where there is not a camera, but not many.
As I said previously- I am trying to change my schedule so that I only work when ds is at school (which starts the week after next). Then ds won't have to go to the daycare. I fully realize this is not the best environment for ds. I realize he's getting overstimulated, especially with these long days. He's frustrated. His teachers are frustrated. It's not a good situation. I'm trying my best to fix it, but I need money to pay the bills too.
: Also, given the teacher's response to your questions, I'd be a bit worried that they're ascribing normal behaviors to his autism. And feel like they need to "fix" him.
