Cage used to restrain autistic boy at school become public

[Misfit]

Oh I didn't catch that common denominator... you must REALLY be an un-showered engineer after all...

I‘d thought I was artistic in school because I’d eat my crayons but it turned out I’d misunderstood the diagnosis.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

There are 50,000 plus physical restraints of kids with disabilities in schools each year due to their uncontrollable outburst. I am asking what the school is supposed to do when a child is in a fit of violence and destruction if physical restraint is not to be an option.

are we talking 6 year old, 8 year old or 18 year old? Because I think there is a big difference in how I answer this.

 

[Bann]

Some people had no issues with handcuffing an 8 year old who was SITTING IN A CHAIR crying. Guess they should have built that kid a jail cell so when he throws his fit they can throw him in the time out cell.

I was waiting for you to pop in.

A metal cage is a bit different than handcuffs and you know it, but feel free to blather on as you wish.

I've actually seen rooms where a time out can happen for students with autism orother developmental disorders become so out of control they are a danger to themselves and others. The room has a special button/handle type mechanism which MUST BE pressed in order for the door to stay locked shut. There is a glass window(which may or may not be two way mirrors) so the person who is holding the mechanism can observe the student. There is also nothing in the room on which the student can injure themselves. It was completed cushioned/padded .

It was in a school and it was only used in those extreme situations where all other behavior modifications had failed to work. I know of 2 times it was used in his particular school and I knew of the student. This was a known method which was written into the student's IEP. And it was the last recourse -not as punishment but to help a student (usually one with sensory issues who became overstimulated and went into a full meltdown) calm down.

 

[vraiblonde]

I‘d thought I was artistic in school because I’d eat my crayons but it turned out I’d misunderstood the diagnosis.

I think that's artistic. Not everyone can poop a rainbow.

 

[vraiblonde]

It sounds like you would rather have had the deputy pull his gun or sit on the kid.

Taser

 

[Bann]

Some autistic people are pretty darn strong, and when they become agitated, it can take more than one person to restrain them. This school might not have had the manpower. I am not saying this is right, but let's think of the safety of the other children while this child is having a meltdown.

I am thinking of the other students, believe me. I come at this from experience. Thing1 is not autistic, but has some of the same developmental and sensory issues. Thing1 had a couple of doozies of meltdowns in school, but neer required those types of restraints. I fully understand the need for them, in some cases though.

I only included the "doesnt make it right" for the posters who would surely show up to berate me and anyonenelse who even looked like we supported this type of restraint. However, this was Austrailia and our US laws might be a bit different. I don't necesarily agree the metal cage was the right type of restraint to use, but the room I described in my other post seems more reasonable a tool to use.

 

[Bann]

I'm trying to understand what their options are if physical restraint isn't the answer.

In this case, this 8 year old girl has already thrown punches at more than one adult and trashed two classrooms before finally being restrained...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-8-year-old-with-disabilities-does-not-belong-in-handcuffs/2015/08/06/bd1e40b6-3bba-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html

In the case of the 8 year old boy you were posting about he was restrained in handcuffs for 15 minutes after attempting to punch the cop. The cuffs were taken off after the boy settled down.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/watch-ky-handcuffs-8-year-old-disability-article-1.2313908

There are 50,000 plus physical restraints of kids with disabilities in schools each year due to their uncontrollable outburst. I am asking what the school is supposed to do when a child is in a fit of violence and destruction if physical restraint is not to be an option.

Exactly.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Sometimes you have to do stuff like this. Often the X adults needed to restrain a kid having this sort of episode isn't because they are super human, but because they are trying to do it without hurting them. If it was "restrain at all costs" it would only take one adult to do it but I am sure someone would throw a fit over the outcome.