do you think the principal of an elementary school without the appropriate program for spectrum disorders.....

Question

that trys to suspend a kindergartener for acting out 'autisic behaviour' deserves a little attention from the local news?

Answer 1

yeah, more than a little attention though. i don't think yahoo allows me enough space to go into this.

Answer 2

To the question asker and people who answered this question: Lots of what ifs....Is the child actually diagnosed with any one of the Austism Spectrum disorders? Has the parent requested or refused testing? What is the behavior? Has the parent met with the staff to work out a plan? What does the parent think is "appropriate" - that is not always reasonable or beneficial (one parent decided that 24 hour, seven day a week teachers were what she wanted, plus a vacation for the rest of the family). There is such a range of behaviors with these autism spectrum disorders that there should NOT be "A Program." Children should be assessed and individual plans put in place which may range from regular ed with modifications to full-time special ed programming. That is the law... If the suspension is for behavior dangerous or hurtful to others, it is legal until a plan of action can be instituted. Would you want your child in a kindergarten room with a five year old who throws chairs and tries to choke people? I doubt if the news media is the place to go. I would suggest an Admissions, Review, and Dismissal (sometimes called an IEP meeting) committe meeting if the child has be identified as special education eligible. If not, requesting testing, seeing a physician, meeting with the staff and principal, seem the logical steps. If in spec ed, there is a specific process in place to protest decisions and request mandated services and the parent should have received this information when the child was placed in spec ed originally. If not, request a Parent Rights booklet immediately. There are also services (usually called child advocates or similar titles) who will go to school with parents for either a very low fee or for free. They know the law and schools definitely sharpen up when one is involved. I know how frustrating it is to deal with the system, having been on both sides. Know your rights and know the school's rights as well.

Answer 3

WOW! I think I would be writing a letter to the editor. That principal should be fired! If he is not there to help each and every student, regardless of their disability he has definately put himself in the wrong profession. Please don't stop advocating for this child, cuz if you don't do it none else will. Keep up the good work! Good Luck!

Answer 4

There is a legal process to go about getting the help the child needs, with it being hard pressed for the school to DENY the help.
Go to www.schwablearning.org and sign up for free on their parent to parent message board, there's lots of help there.
The legal process includes making sure the school IS giving the child the help he needs.
If this child IS recieveing special education services, you need to call your state dept of education and ask for the phone number for the 'federally funded parent advocacy agency' This agency will help parents for FREE in making sure the school is following the laws and in getting your child the help he needs.

Answer 5

There should never reach a point in kindergarten for any child to be suspended!!!!! Either the child belongs there or the prinicipal should make other arrangements. How humiliating to a child and his/her parents.....shame on the prinicipal!!!

Answer 6

The school board of that school district should be the one who needs to be in the spot light. Maybe the local news could ask them why there is no such program in their school system.

Answer 7

Perhaps the child should be in a special school, if he/she is disrupting the class?

Answer 8

Maybe, maybe not - are you seeking revenge because your child was disciplined for disrupting a classroom?