Here's a good introduction to addressing elopement at school, written by a special education attorney who has experience with several children with elopement issues. The only thing he doesn't mention is putting elopement in the IEP.
http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2005/11/on_october_14_2.h tml
He recommends:
1) A written plan on how to deal with elopement, with assigned roles for the staff, prevention (for example visuals for the child) and "fire drills" for dealing with a crisis that comes up despite prevention.
2) Risk analysis -- what aspects of the schedule and surroundings increase the risk of elopement? ie transitions between rooms, located near a busy street, etc.
3) Equipment -- teachers and other staff must be able to communicate with each other quickly in a crisis. Walkie-talkies are essential.
4) Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan -- this is the most important step. Why does the child elope and what can you do to teach him to stay put and get his needs met in a safer, more appropriate way?
Good luck with the fence.
I was just saying the other day that NOBODY IS LISTENING TO ME",,,,i AM IN CONSTANT BATTLE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AM SICK AND TIRED OF IT...IT IS ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO WEAR ME DOWN SO I WIL GIVE UP...I SEE MORE AND MORE OF MY SON COMING BACK YET THEY KEEP MAKING HIS LIFE HARD..UNREAL..SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU EXCEPT GO GET THEM....Iffen WE did, then who the HELLo is gonna FIGHT for our kiddos rights?!! I will tell you who...NoBuddy!!! That's WHO!!!
(((((((((((((((( VC!!! )))))))))))))) From what I KNOW of YOU, you, my Friend are a VERY Strong and Loving Person!! I know YOU will NEVER give up!!!
It is People like US that FIGHT the GOOD Fight for the others to come!! Just take a look at Tzoya....she FOUGHT and FOUGHT and FOUGHT....Thanks to her, AND the other people that "fought", NY has the BEST services!!! So now those parents don't hafta FIGHT like the rest of US!!
People, like Tzoya, are people I admire sooooooooo much!!! The people that live in NY should be rather PLEASED with their services, AND thank those that FOUGHT for them!!!
ScReEcH
Hi There!
I was just wonderin' iffen there are other people here who are doing YET another battle with their school district?
You would THINK since I sued and WON this district before, they would take me seriously!!! It is almost like they just look at me like a "trouble maker" and push me aside.
Well, they are messin' with the WRONG person here!! I THOUGHT this year was gonna be different...a new start ( new school, new dir of spec ed, new super, new board members) Turns out Nobuddy, but NOBUDDY is listening to me!!
There are these GAPS in the so-called fenced-in school grounds. Thus far, AJ and another child has gotten out!! AJ is a FAST runner! When he gets out of these GAPS and RUNS, his para hasta go through the classroom before she can get out herself as the gates are locked!
I have already written 3...count them THREE letters about THIS issue!! The secretary was totally shocked when I asked her to stamp and initial my letters cuz she has worked there for 8 yrs and NEVER hadda do this before. I just shook her hand, smiled, and introduced myself. The teacher told me that the school district aint gonna fix these GAPS. I told her yes they WILL cuz I will FIGHT, and continue FIGHTING and I will prevail!! This is a major "safety" issue!!! Why no other parents have not said anything about these GAPS is beyond me!!! So there you's have it...this is how our school year is starting off....FUN, huh? Aint no wonder I can't sleep. BassTurds!!! best not ONLY "listen" to me, but more importantly, do SOMETHING about those GAPS!!!
Thanks for allowing me to rant and rave! ScReEcH I opted the name ScReEcH cuz that WAS the ONLY type of communication I got from AJ! He still does it off and on, BUT not as much as he used to....I think my hearing is going...huh? What??
Perhaps the loss of hearing will make me even MORE Boisterous when it comes to dealing with the school district!! I already had TWO sit down meetings....one with the dir of spec ed, AND one with the principal of THIS school. My next step is to introduce myself to the new Super as I have HIM stamp and initial my letter to HIM! Iffen that doesn't work, then of course, I will march the school board! Iffen ALL else fails, I will contact my attorney!~
You wanna join me on this trek???
ScReEcH All I have done is fight. I never get anywhere. But, one of my kids doctors has an autistic nephew and he told me.......... that his brother keeps an attorney on retainer and every year there is a new battle, his brother wins and the next year there is another battle and they go to court and his brother wins, etc. It's just this on going thing. It sounds crazy and exhausting. My personal feeling is that the schools just don't give a flying hoot about these kids. I took my kids out this year to homeschool because i need the break of spending all my energy on fighting them and putting my energy back where it belongs, which is on my kids. Hopefully, I'll be ready for the fight again in a few months. Good Luck and Keep up fight. Nice to see you, Screech. Not surprised that you are still fighting. The fighting will never cease, it only changes. Yes, I'm fighting with my SD. In fact, I think I'm going to be going to Mediation. I'm opting for that because I HAVE the agreement in writing. It's just that they are not implementing it. All I need is for someone to say to the District "Just do it!" and don't want to pay thru the nose for a lawyer to tell a Hearing Officer what I can tell them myself. Hope it works. Otherwise, we WILL be off to a Hearing. Fighting happens to everyone whose child does not completely fit a mold. And I don't actually know any child who truly does. Good luck.
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