Boston Teacher Placed on (Paid) Leave Following Abuse of Autistic Child
We need a Memorial Day for American boys, girls, men and women with autism. This abuse and disregard and anger toward our loved ones simply must stop. And thank you to the military men and women who are raising children on the spectrum.
May 26, 2012 BOSTON - The mother of an autistic boy said she is outraged at the treatment her 4-year-old son received at the Russell Elementary School in Dorchester, while state investigators are looking into allegations of abuse by a teacher there.
Michelle Whitlow said her son, Deshaun, was abused at the school and called the decision by the school not to directly inform her "outrageous."
Deshaun's teacher was reported by other teachers for aggressively handling the boy and four other children on May 1, according to state investigators.
Whitlow said the school's principal never called her.
Three weeks later, Whitlow received a letter from the state Department of Children and Families supporting the allegations of physical abuse of Deshaun and the other children.
However, she said no one has told her exactly what happened.
"I am afraid someone might do something to him and he can't come home and say who hurt him. That's my biggest fear. He can't tell me if somebody did something to him," she said.
Whitlow has since transferred her son to another school.
The Boston School Department would only confirm the teacher is on paid leave.
See Video at WCVB.
I was at a Memorial Day ceremony in my little town of 13,000. My youngest son was in the parade playing the saxophone. Next to me, by chance, was a family I knew. They were there with their 12 year old who's autistic and who spent the time rocking and chewing her fingernails.
As we listened to speeches about how great America is, the disaster is all around us and we're doing nothing.
Anne Dachel, Media
Posted by: Anne McElroy Dachel | May 28, 2012 at 09:43 PM
When my son was recovered at 14, he told me stuff like he was locked in dark rooms at school by himself and such. It's extremely sad, but people will do whatever they can get away with. Truth is, my son was out of control, but I was unable to get good help for him because the school never informed me that he was so out of control that he had to be locked away. His doctor kept telling me that he couldn't be too bad if the school is not complaining much. So, I just thought he had ADHD. Anyhow, sadly, they got away with it, and I think it's human nature to do bad things when people feel they can get away with it. Most school personnel, to include special needs teachers, really have no idea on what to do with out-of-control children.
Posted by: Heidi N | May 28, 2012 at 05:26 PM
I am beginning to fear that the number of affected children has finally reached such proportions that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find enough people with the patience to teach them. Camera's in every room is the only solution.
Posted by: KFuller | May 28, 2012 at 05:17 PM
Our town held its annual Memorial Day parade today. A tradition that goes back years in this little seaside community. My son and I watched as our town's firemen, policemen, Coast Guard, town officials paraded by followed by kids from little league, soccer, girl and boy scouts. Kids proudly waving American flags. Men and women in uniform. One generation following the next. My son and I stood on the sidelines as the kids threw candy. My son held his ears but would stop and pick up the candy the kids threw. The parade terminates at the town cemetary where speeches are given in honor of our fallen soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country. The children will place flags on their graves. Our children are soldiers in way as they too have sacrificed their lives for the "greater good". Our kids have been sidelined by this misguided, illusionary war on disease. We must never let our country forget that our children too have paid an enormous price for our country.
1 in 88 children now effected with autism and 1 in 54 boys in the US. The collateral damage done to American children during this generation will mean a shortage of soldiers, teachers, firefighters, policemen and women, doctors, nurses, engineers,and scientists. Just like the men who gave their lives for the greater good so have our children. OUR soldiers. OUR children. OUR future. Our Freedom. People need to start thinking in about how this crisis will impact our countries 10-15 years from now. The good of our nation is being threatened one child at a time. One day the effect will be felt.
Posted by: Sarah | May 28, 2012 at 10:49 AM
About 416,000 American military died in WWII. We might now be nearly triple that number of losses with the American Autism epidemic.
It would be nice if the CDC had to present each parent with a small Autism flag, thank the parent for their child, and say that they have no idea what happened and they have no idea what is going on...
one somewhat bright spot of the year so far however...
April 2, 2012 Donald Trump on vaccines and Autism... " the baby just lost it..."
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/autism/video-donald-trump-claims-autism-caused-vaccines
not sure of the "monster shot" Mr. Trump was talking about but....
Posted by: cmo | May 28, 2012 at 09:48 AM