(At what point do we as a society truly accept that the inalienable rights Jefferson wrote about so many moons ago apply not just to men, not just to white men, and not just to those who can self-advocate, but to ALL of us, even a functionally helpless autistic child? In some states, efforts have been made to restrict and regulate dangerous restraint and other assaults committed in the name of “behavioral management”. Recently there were stories of attrocities thus committed in Michigan and Arizona, which resulted in the termination of employment of the perpetrators, and the pursuit of criminal and civil penalties. However, in other states, including Idaho, it apparently is not considered a crime to do to a child with Aspergers what it would certainly be considered a crime to do to a non- DD child.
In most areas I am against nationalization of policies, believing that in many ways local authorities should have the right to modify their programs to fit the local needs. However, in this regard I think that there is a definate need for a sweeping reform, not just of application of acceptable force, but in the very thinking of those persons that we entrust our often difficult childrenwith for hours each week.
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http://www.ktvb.com/news/topstories/ktvbn-february20-investigation.3c98ed3.html
Video shows confrontation
02/20/2003
Maggie O’Mara
Idaho’s NewsChannel 7
Editor’s note: This story is heavily dependant on video. To get a complete understanding, we suggest you watch the video below.
WATCH STORY
NewsChannel 7 has obtained exclusive video of a Police Resource Officer restraining a child in a special education classroom. The Police Department and a judge say she acted appropriately.
The child’s parents say this is clearly an example of excessive force and a violation of their son’s constitutional rights.
³I’m thinking OI wish I was there¹. My child needs help and he is begging for mercy and they just continue to inflict pain,² Dixie Hayenga said. ³She needs backup, she needs backup.”
The video tape was taken three years ago at West Middle School in Nampa.
On the tape, a 14 year old child with a form of autism is taken to the ground and handcuffed by resource officer Angela Weekes.
Nampa police and school officials say the boy was acting up in class-tapping on his desk and singing.
They say he had a violent history and they couldn’t take any chances. They claim he assaulted the resource officer before.
The tape shows the classroom was being evacuated, and the boy tried to leave too.
The parents say the child’s rights were clearly violated. The child has Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism. The parents tell us the teachers in the classroom had been told how to deal with his disruptions, and the parents are outraged by the tape.
“They could have tried talking to him; they could have said OJoe, stay in your seat your parents are on the way.¹ OJoe, let’s take a walk.¹ They could have said anything. The teachers should have been trained on how to deal with children with disabilities,” Jerry and Dixie Hayenga said.
The Nampa police department says the resource officer acted appropriately, and officer Angela Weekes had to act to protect the kids and the other people in the classroom.
“This has been three years of intense investigations, depositions, court hearings, and it ends with a US district court judge looking at all the evidence and saying, Oa Nampa police officer did the right thing,¹” city of Nampa spokesperson Dale Dixon said.
The parents plan to appeal the judge’s decision.
NewsChannel 7 is continuing are investigation in to this incident and will bring you much more throughout Friday on KTVB.COM & NewsChannel 7.
Editor’s note: This story is heavily dependant on video. To get a complete understanding, we suggest you watch the video below.
I swear, at least once a year down here in Florida, abuse is exposed in an elementary LD classroom. The child is either tied to chair, forced to sit in a dark coat closet, or has his or her mouth taped shut (apparently an all-time favorite) . The teacher is usually young and inexperienced, and certified in an area not even remotely resembling special education. The most tiresomely-used lame defense is that the child is uncontrollable and/or other classmates felt threatened. Where do they get these people and why has no one included a list of “stupid things that you never, ever do” in their training somewhere?