behavior of other kids? | Autism PDD

Mamasquash -- Has the IEP Team suggested Parent Training for these families? If the school district sent a BCBA into each family's home once a week (our District has done this in the past), perhaps the families would have more success in getting their children to accept what they don't seem to be able to accept at this point. Autism can cause HORRIFIC reactions in kids. As I'm sure you know, these kids are not spoiled, but have negative reactions to life experiences caused by their autism. However, we parents were not born knowing how to address issues that are SO atypical. I believe the school has failed these children if they just assume the parents are not going to help and leave it at that. No parent wants to admit that he or she needs help in knowing how to manage his or her own child. You have a ton of background. I had a MA in Education with a specialization in special education long before I got married and had our son, so I had SOME kind of background in positive behavioral techniques, but I still needed parent training and got plenty of it because I ASKED. However, I KNEW to ask. Parents who don't know that they have a right to this sort of training need to have the IEP Team suggest it. SInce the class you are involved with is a class specifically for autism, perhaps you could arrange for group parent training in the evenings for all the parents so that these parents won't feel singled out. Of course, transportation for them (and babysitting) might present a problem. Also, giving the parent training IN the home enables the trainer to adapt the techniques for the particular home setting. It sounds as though these parents are simply unschooled in appropriate behavior management techniques and need a lot of support in that area. Once their children learn to be more manageable, they will be able to access an environment that might help them reach their potential. I don't believe the sort of home instruction the school is likely to provide will do that. I hope the families get the sort of intervention that will enable their children to behave in such a way that they don't end up in the MOST restrictive environment.That reminds me: My ds has developed a huge dislike for cereal over the
summer, I better work on his rsponse over the next week before he has a
major freak out in the lunch room.

You know I am torn about it. I have known several settings where
restraints were used and I have a family member work in a school setting
that uses restraints and time out rooms. In my experience once they are
available, they do get overused and used inappropriatly. But on the other
hand it is not okay that other's live in fear of their safety. I am sure that
the Sd does not like setting up home programs but in the end it might be
the best for everyone involved. If a kid despite interventions and FBA's
keeps showing aggression I think a classroom of six is no longer the least
restrictive environment that is appropriate.
I would vote for the inhome instruction or something one on one or with the 2 with the aggresive behavior and one instructor. I would not want my kids to be on the receiving end of aggresive behavior, but if it was my kid being aggressive I still don't think I would want restraints used, but it is not practical to say my kid doesn't like glasses or ponytails so no other kid in the class can have those. Especially glasses, some kids NEED glasses, that just strikes me as extremely unreasonable. It is also not fair to put other kids in a position of danger or regression because my child is having behavioral issues he can't control, even though it is caused by his disability. If I had the aggressive child I would probably be all for his removal, at least until those aggressions were under control.

How would I feel?

I don't like the idea of restraints. I feel like if you open the door on that one, even a crack, it has the potential to be misused. I don't have any experience in this area, but it just sounds awful.

However, if a child's aggression is creating a dangerous environment for the other kids, the child should be removed from the classroom - PERIOD. If one of my kids was physically harmed by another child, I would go down to the school and raise hell. If appropriate action were not taken IMMEDIATELY, I would take it to the mat, even looking at filing assault charges with the police.

I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I have very strong feelings on this. I send my kids off to school each day under the assumption that they are safe there. It is the responsiblity of the school to provide a safe environment for my children to learn. I don't want them hit. I don't want them to see other peoplel hit. I don't want to deal with the emotional fallout of them watching a beloved teacher get bitten so that it breaks the skin and bleeds. This is not a safe environment, nor a good learning environment. How can any of the kids sit back down and focus on their schoolwork after observing incidents like those described?

I feel for this family. I can't imagine what it would be like to have my child hurting other kids and teachers and having to deal with that. I hope those kids get the help that they need - but it can't be at the expense of the other kids in the class. To me, the common sense approach would be working with the child 1:1 outside of a classroom environment to get the behaviors under control and then when the child is ready, gradually introducing the child back into the classroom environment starting with a few minutes per day with appropriate supports.

This may sound harsh, and again, sorry if I've offended, but these kids at ages 9 and 11 are still relatively small, likely smaller than their teachers. What happens when they get bigger, and stronger? Assuming they are boys, they are getting close to puberty and the addition aggression that can bring? What are the parents going to do when one of their kids assaults another child outside of school and charges are filed? The time to address this is now. These kids, like all kids, deserve a chance in life, but aggression and violence if left unchecked is a path toward prision, not the good life we all want for our kids.

Parents have the right in NY to not agree to an IEP that includes restraints or aversives. However, the school has a responsibility toward the OTHER kids. It's totally fine for a school to suspend a violent student, even if the action is a result of that student's disability. AFter 10 days, the school MUST meet to determine, officially, if that student's misbehavior is a manifestation of his disability. IF it is determined that the misbehavior IS a manifestation of the disability, the suspension is ended immediately but that does NOT mean that the student necessarily re-enters the same classroom. The school has the option of putting that student in a completely different Alternative Setting. This COULD be the home. They can keep the child in that setting fo up to 45 school days (one quarter) while they look for the appropriate permanent setting. If a child cannot be educated safely with others and the parents refuse to OK restraints, then the school CAN choose to put that student on Home Instruction.

Tzoya...that is our next step. Unfortunately, in the cases of both of the students the parents have not dealt with home behavior and have chosen to structure home so the kids don't get upset. One mom even said that the reason her son gets aggressive is that he doesn't like glasses or ponytails and that no one in the class should have either as it upsets him. Both kiddos have such great potential....just makes me sad for both of them. They really don't have behavioral expectations for their kiddos....but the other 4 kids in class....their parents do!!! Unfair to all the kids!!!OK.....the recent threads of restraint and time-out had me thinking. How would you respond to this situation (we have this situation in one of the classes I am going to be supervising). My school has all 6-1-1 classes for kids with autism or emotional disablities. In particular, we have a class in which there are 2 students who exhibit extreme aggression towards staff and students - students are ages 9 and 11. This has included biting to break the skin, staff needing stitches, other students being hit, punched, kicked, scratched, and on the receiving end of tossed items. Staff is highly trained and multiple FBA's have been conducted on both students with inconclusive results. Multiple behavior plans have been implemented over the years, but nothing has completely ended the behaviors. That being said......the parents of both of the students will not agree to removal to an alternate area, use of a time-out room, restraint or removal of their child from the room. All of which I can understand. However, the other parents in class are becoming increasingly upset that their children are in an unsafe class and are demanding that action be taken. So if you were the parent of one of the kids in the class does that change your view of restraint or removal to another location??? If your child were in physical danger does that change your perspective? We are really stuck on this one as I completely understand the parents desire for us not to use these last ditch interventions.....but the safety of the other kids is at risk. Bottom line is that administrative policy is if the other kids are in danger, our crisis team will step in and make the decision. So how would you feel?? [QUOTE=mamasquash]One mom even said that the reason her son gets aggressive is that he doesn't like glasses or ponytails and that no one in the class should have either as it upsets him. [/QUOTE]