Boy with PDD charged with assault

[2boyzmama]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...4/NEWS/3040320

Wow.

[lotusdebi]

Seems to be happening more and more often.

[2boyzmama]

I'm sure there are many details left out, we'll never know just from a short article whether this really is a special needs child who wasn't getting the assistance he needs, or whether he's a child who just needs more structure and parenting (because unfortunately the latter is sometimes true).

But this kind of thing scares me, and is the reason I'm pushing so hard for Connor's out of district placement. In our case, I have seen Connor respond physically (pushing, for example) when he can't communicate with a child his age. That may happen if he continues in the fully-verbal placement he's in right now. If he were put in an environment where other children would understand his signs, he is much less likely to respond physically.

If my preschooler gets accused of assault when I have documentation that I've requested additional services and the school denied it...wow, heads will roll.

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Ds1 gets into rages, and although he's never actually hit someone, he has gotten into shoving with a boy before. He did shove me a few times before we decided to give meds a try. But having him actually hurt someone at school scares the heck out of me. Thankfully, they have a special program at the school he goes to for kids specifically with special needs that include behavioral and social issues. It's taken a huge load off my mind to have him a class that addresses and helps him learn appropriate behavior and not just math.

[lotusdebi]

I've been hit, kicked, bit, and slammed into. DS1 has done worse to DH. I'm incredibly thankful that I can homeschool, even though it's really hard some days. It's stories like this that keep me from considering the schools here. They don't have the training or resources to deal with my child, and the local police are scary.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

My 9-year-old ASD foster child spent 3 weeks in Juvie for assaulting a substitute teacher after she told him he couldn't whisper in the bushes during recess with the first friend he had made all year. His regular teacher was outraged at the substitute teacher's action, but the school notified the police and he was arrested.

[lotusdebi]

That's awful, BellinghamCrunchie.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

My 9-year-old ASD foster child spent 3 weeks in Juvie for assaulting a substitute teacher after she told him he couldn't whisper in the bushes during recess with the first friend he had made all year. His regular teacher was outraged at the substitute teacher's action, but the school notified the police and he was arrested.

What. The. F.

[khaoskat]

If they child has a competent attorney, which I say are vary lacking in juvenile delinquency with knowledge of special needs, they will request an evaluation to determine if the child is competent to stand trial or even competent to assist his counsel or know right from wrong.

This is one reason I am wanting to get more specialized and focus on Juvenile Law Practice with delinquency. These kids need representation that understands the fact that the kids with special needs might also not be able to understand what is going on or effectively assist them. They need to know when to seek an Eval, and when to push and not let others push them away from it.

[Lilypie32]

Stories like this make me ill. I found this statement absurd:

"The classroom teacher was out of work for several days because of injuries sustained in the altercation, according to school documents."

Who believes this crap? He is 7, not 17.

[sbgrace]

He was not charged:
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpps/new...100305_6405163

It sounds like his parents (and the poor kid) have no good options. They need an advocate to step in and fight for proper accommodations.

[mommy2maya]

Originally Posted by Lilypie32

Stories like this make me ill. I found this statement absurd:

"The classroom teacher was out of work for several days because of injuries sustained in the altercation, according to school documents."

Who believes this crap? He is 7, not 17.

Really, it is NOT AT ALL out of the realm of reality with a child who does not have control of themselves. I have seen it happen. There is a wing of my children's school that has behavioral needs children. I have personally witnessed rages of 7-8-9-10yos that you just would not believe if you didn't see it. And out of nowhere. Also, we have had teachers injured, included broken ribs and broken noses. It does happen.

And honestly, at that point, what IS THERE TO DO? It is a really hard quandary to be in, I don't envy anyone in that situation, school or family. When you have an extremely violent child, where do you put them? How do you balance the needs of everyone to have a safe environment? A friend of mine has a 16yo moderately affected autistic son. School placement is HARD. He doesn't do well in a classroom with other autistic children because the stims freak him out. Also, other kids crying freak him out incredibly- he just will.not.go.back if he is in a situation with kids crying. In a typical classroom, it is too chaotic for him. He was a freshman last year, and even the autistic classes didn't work well for him. He did whatever it took to try not to go. This year he is in a specific school just for Autistic children. Luckily he lives in a big metro area though- this is obviously not a realistic option everywhere, lack of enough students and money.

[Irishmommy]

records indicate school officials dispute that diagnosis

Since when are schools qualified to make medical diagnoses? I thought they had education degrees, not medical ones. //scarcasm off//

[khaoskat]

You are very correct about that. Schools legally cannot diagnose a child.

Even in criminal proceedings. With this child having the diagnosis he does, any competent attorney should request that his/her client undergo a Competency Eval. Due to the diagnosis of the child, you most likely have one of two situations - 1) They did not have the mens rea - mental culpability for the crime; or 2) they lack the ability to assist in their own defense or even understand the Court proceedings against them.

In a Court proceeding, it does not matter if the school disbelieves the diagnosis, it is not their call. There is well documented evidence that can be put forward by trained profressionals, who made the diagnosis. Not only that but you will have the Court Psychologist getting into the middle of it as well, giving his/her impressions of an mental health diagnosis and competency.