padded room

[ljean]

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I have a daughter who just started 6th grade in the middle school. She is in special ed because she is autistic.
This is her third week. She also spent four weeks in that same room in summer school.
I heard that she was being dropped off about 35 to 40 minutes early by the bus. I also heard she was going into a padded room during that time. I was just shocked to hear such a thing, because she never has been in one and she is not a voilent person.
The next day I let her ride the bus to school. I seen her get on at 7:00 am. My mom was waiting at the school and seen her bus pull up at 7:15. My daughter went in about 7:20.
I stopped at the store to bring things to school.
I walked in and didn't see my daughter and so I asked the teacher where she was and the teacher took me to this 4 by 5 foot closet, if you will.
The school never got permission from me to put my daughter in this room. They said she wanted to be in there, but the way I see it they either put her in there or let her be in there because they didn't know what to do with her during that time.
They said the bells and the morning announcements bothered her. I don't believe the room in sound proof.
Putting her in there is inhumane, its isolation and it could cause more problems for her.
I could say more, but I won't right now.
Does anyone have anything to say about this? Do I have a legal case here?
ljean

 

[stealth2]

For starters... where did you think she was between the time she got on the bus and the start of the school day?

 

[coosi]

I have a daughter who just started 6th grade in the middle school. She is in special ed because she is autistic.

*Is she the only special ed student?

This is her third week. She also spent four weeks in that same room in summer school.

*So, after seven weeks of this, you decided to do something?

I heard that she was being dropped off about 35 to 40 minutes early by the bus.

*Is it the regular school bus?

I also heard she was going into a padded room during that time. I was just shocked to hear such a thing, because she never has been in one and she is not a voilent person.

*How did you hear about it?

The next day I let her ride the bus to school. I seen her get on at 7:00 am. My mom was waiting at the school and seen her bus pull up at 7:15. My daughter went in about 7:20.

*So, you watch her get on the bus and your mother waits at the school to watch her get off? Why don't you just take her?

I stopped at the store to bring things to school.
I walked in and didn't see my daughter and so I asked the teacher where she was and the teacher took me to this 4 by 5 foot closet, if you will.
The school never got permission from me to put my daughter in this room. They said she wanted to be in there, but the way I see it they either put her in there or let her be in there because they didn't know what to do with her during that time.

*Did you ask her if she wanted to be in there?

They said the bells and the morning announcements bothered her. I don't believe the room in sound proof.
Putting her in there is inhumane, its isolation and it could cause more problems for her.
I could say more, but I won't right now.
Does anyone have anything to say about this? Do I have a legal case here?

*Why would you have a legal case? She has an IEP right? What does it say about this?

 

[ljean]

I didn't know she was getting to school that early. someone at the school told my friend and she told me. and she told me at that time about the padded room.
that was a monday night and the next morning I wanted to walk in and see it for myself. so i just let my daughter ride the bus and i walked in unannounced.

This is only the third week of school. she went there during summer school, with different teachers and she was never put in that room.

 

[ljean]

The padded room was there for a student they had who was violent. The school needs parental permission to put a student in one of these rooms. I was never asked, I never signed anything, I was never aware of this happening. Someone at the school was worried and told someone who she knew would tell me.

No where in her IEP does it say my daughter needs this or has ever had it.

anyone who is educated and with brains should know you don't do this to anyone. no matter if they have a disability or what.

 

[coosi]

Could you please quote the accomadations that were written into her IEP?

 

[AlexiaH]

As an old special education teacher, I have several questions. The first one is: Why is the school bus getting the students to school so early? Thirty minutes is not sooo much, but 45 seems way too early to me. That provides a big supervision problem for everyone, I'd think! Where do the other students go?

Second and more: Is the little padded room in her classroom? What is it used for? Did your daughter ask to go sit there? Is there a door on it that is closed on her or is she just sitting there with the door open? Is there an adult nearby supervising? Is there a little quiet place in the room where she could sit instead if she chose to? Did she seem distressed to be there?

I've seen classrooms for children with severe behaviors that had quiet rooms where students could be placed --or choose to go to--to calm down when things got to be too much. The teachers involved discussed that option with parents at the IEP meeting. I've seen mention of such a room in an IEP and I've seen it omitted. In today's litigous (sp?) society, it's usually mentioned.

 

[ljean]

the padded "closet" is in one classroom. the door is shut. there is a window in the door, but it is covered with a pad, exept the very top about 2-3 inches. not sure if she wanted to go in the room. with her if a routine starts she will automaticly do what she knows or thinks she is supposed to do.
I am not sure if the teacher says in the classroom while she was in the room.
Like I said, this has never been an issue before. at the elementry school, they did not have rooms like this. they had quiet corners with tall dividers.
Nowhere in her IEP is it stated she needs to be in the closet

 

[coosi]

Putting her in there is inhumane, its isolation and it could cause more problems for her.
I could say more, but I won't right now.
Does anyone have anything to say about this? Do I have a legal case here?
ljean

Jean,

Your responsibility here is not to sue the district, you won't win. However, it sounds like it's time to sit down with the S.Ed department and write a new IEP, detailing all accomodations to everyone's satisfaction, and in the best interests of your daughter. Get a copy...

 

[ljean]

The following day after I found out we had a meeting at the school and we came up with some changes.
We called the bus company and they are sending a bus out about 35 to 40 minutes later, so she arrives at school after all the comotion with all the other kids. Its a big school. Grades 6, 7 and 8. About 300 kids per class.
The teacher said she would make a space in the classroom with high dividers so she could go there to have her space.
The teacher told me the next day she put something in front of the door to the padded room.
I did feel better after the meeting. I just have had some people say I shouldn't let the school get away with it. I am not a sue happy person. I hate the thought of going into a court room.
I'm in the prosses of getting a divorce and I'm dredding going to court.
At least the teacher knows I'm watching. I told her I will be dropping in sometimes.
Its just hard, because my daughter doesn't talk much, so I have to rely on the teachers to let me know whats going on.

 

[AlexiaH]

I agree with Coosi. It's time to sit down with the teacher and principal and at least review the IEP. At that meeting you can make sure it is documented that you do not want her to go to the padded room. It doesn't sound as if your daughter has behavior issues, but if she does, a behavior plan should be written so that everyone is clear on what happens. The big thing now is positive behavior interventions--getting away from the punitive.

At the IEP meeting, you're to be given a copy of Procedural Safeguards. It's dreary reading but it tells you your legal rights as the parent of a child receiving special ed services. There is a procedure to go through if you feel things aren't going right. I would definitely try to get things worked out at the IEP meeting. The next step would be a child complaint, then on to a due process(that's when the district gets sued) if things aren't resolved there. I'd really try to avoid that--it's a long expensive process that leaves everyone feeling lousy, in my experience.

Sounds to me like someone tried to come up with a solution to a problem and came up with a lousy one. It also sounds like everyone is trying to correct that. New bus, new quiet corner. If you have time to drop by to check up on the teacher, maybe you could make it a more positive experience and use that time to volunteer in the classroom or at the school.

 

[coosi]

Alexia,

Good points, I agree.

 

[kbear71]

a contact for you

http://www.pacer.org/

It is Minnesota based and a huge resource for parents with children with special education needs.