Problem with public school & Autistic Child

[lisaandjim99]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

What rights do I have as a parent of an Autistic child, who is our local public school system that runs away and gets "lost" (wanders away) during school?

When I went to pick up my son, I found out from the substitute assistant that he ran off the playground due to a fight involving 3 children that scared him. The teacher confirmed what happened and then explained what happened fully.

I spoke to the teacher, aide and media specialist who found him. I was basically put down when I called the district board for even talking to the people involved. They said I had no right to question their staff about what happened and that I should only listen to what the principal says - basically it's her school and she runs the show.

I was also told that they DID NOT have to tell me things that happen or disclose fully what happens with my children in their school. I was told I was being an overprotective parent, blowing the situation out of proportion and too emotional. (Of course I was emotional, I was just told my son was lost - if he didn't have such a fascination with the media center he may have ran out of the open parking lot).

Monday, my son opened the class door and ran out because they did not fix the lock the teacher has asked them to fix.

Tuesday during PE, my son ran off because he was with a teacher he did not know. They did tell the teacher to watch him in case he tries to wander off.

Wednesday he ran off the playground and was unsupervised (media center has not opened yet) for at least 7-10 minutes because his teacher was not provided a walkie talkie radio that day. She had to yell across the playground and restrain children from fighting at the same time, her sub ran to get a radio.

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[Humusluvr]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

What rights do I have as a parent of an Autistic child, who is our local public school system that runs away and gets "lost" (wanders away) during school?

When I went to pick up my son, I found out from the substitute assistant that he ran off the playground due to a fight involving 3 children that scared him. The teacher confirmed what happened and then explained what happened fully.

I spoke to the teacher, aide and media specialist who found him. I was basically put down when I called the district board for even talking to the people involved. They said I had no right to question their staff about what happened and that I should only listen to what the principal says - basically it's her school and she runs the show.

I was also told that they DID NOT have to tell me things that happen or disclose fully what happens with my children in their school. I was told I was being an overprotective parent, blowing the situation out of proportion and too emotional. (Of course I was emotional, I was just told my son was lost - if he didn't have such a fascination with the media center he may have ran out of the open parking lot).

Monday, my son opened the class door and ran out because they did not fix the lock the teacher has asked them to fix.

Tuesday during PE, my son ran off because he was with a teacher he did not know. They did tell the teacher to watch him in case he tries to wander off.

Wednesday he ran off the playground and was unsupervised (media center has not opened yet) for at least 7-10 minutes because his teacher was not provided a walkie talkie radio that day. She had to yell across the playground and restrain children from fighting at the same time, her sub ran to get a radio.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Request an ARD meeting to change your son's IEP to include a monitor. A child with a disability cannot be permitted to run out of building where he might be injured or killed.

Keep in mind that this change in the IEP could involve a change in placement for your son - meaning he could be placed in an educational unit for severe disabilities, and not in "inclusion" where he is in a regular classroom. So you have to weigh your pros and cons. Do you want your child in a regular classroom or a locked self-contained unit where he can be monitored at all times.

There may be other options. Discuss them at your ARD. Under Special Education law, they must have one within 10 days if you request it.