More About Special Needs Abuse

Last week, we discussed the GAO's report on the abuse of special needs students in their schools. Today, CNN recounts a congressional hearing on the issue. According to Disability Scoop, the White House is "very concerned" about this, too. A senior spokesman says:

The White House is very concerned about the restraint and seclusion issue, especially the deaths and serious injuries that have taken place across the country. We are committed to working with the secretary of education, Congress and the community to explore solutions to this issue.

Are federal standards far off?

GAO: Some Special Needs Students Abused by Their Schools

The special needs and education community is abuzz with a report from the Government Accountability Office on public and private schools and treatment center's use of restraint and seclusion. The report on selected cases of abuse and death prepared for the House Education and labor committee found "hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death related to the use of these methods on school children during the past two decades."

Examples of cases examined by the GAO include a West Virginia 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and autism who "suffered bruising and post traumatic stress disorder after teachers restrained her in a wooden chair with leather straps—described as resembling a miniature electric chair—for being 'uncooperative.'" In another incident, "a special education teacher at a public school was accused of using bungee cords and duct tape to fasten children as young as 5 years old to chairs designed to support kids with muscular difficulties. According to parents, their children sustained injuries such as broken arms and bloody noses while in this teacher’s class. A teacher’s aide told investigators that the woman used the restraints on a daily basis to punish the children."

The GAO finds that despite the fact that it "continues to receive new allegations from parents and advocacy groups" there is no central agency that collects information about these allegations or these methods and no federal guidance on the matter. In reviewing 10 cases in which their where criminal convictions, often involving non-violent students, the GAO finds a few trends: did not give consent; restraints that block air to the lungs can be deadly; teachers and staff in the cases were often not trained on the use of seclusions and restraints; and teachers and staff from at least 5 of the 10 cases continue to be employed as educators.

While there is no mention of any incidents on the school bus in the full report [PDF] some past incidents suggest this is something the school bus industry needs to consider, too. Take a look at the report, let us know what you think. What you share can help the industry become safer and serve special needs students better.

Inspiring Words for Special Needs Students and Some Uninspiring Actions

Tawana Williams, a woman born without arms, shared a message with special needs students in Richmond County (N.C.) during the first annual Transition Support Fair for students with disabilities, the Richmond County Journal reports. She told the students:

“Stop focusing on what you think you can’t do, or what you think you don’t have ... If I was able to overcome my challenges and trials, then no one in this room has any excuse.”

Jeanette Davis, director of exceptional children for RCS, called the message "inspirational" and empowering.

Less inspiring is this from Tremerton, Utah: Driver, Aide Leave Sleeping Autistic Five-Year-Old on Bus. Apparently, the child woke at the bus yard and walked nearly a mile before he was spotted. Both the driver and aide have been placed on leave.

Those with a print copy of the May issue will see an article ("It's Not Just About Driving..." page 26) about how our brains let us forget things like this and how we might stop it. For those who've read it, any thoughts?

Transporting Students with Disabilities Conference Snap Shots

Edupro Group this week posts photos from the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Pre-Schoolers conference earlier this year. View the full gallery for photos from the child restraint workshop, EXPO, securement training and welcome party.

Fully Federally Funded IDEA on the Way?

Rep. John Kline yesterday introduced a bill that would fully fund IDEA. According to the blog Disability Scoop, when Congress initially passed legislation mandating educational services for students with disabilities the federal government committed to provide 40 percent of its cost, but in reality the federal government provides less than 20 percent. Kline said:

“For far too long, our nation’s schools have been waiting patiently for Congress to fulfill its promise to fully fund special education ... By fully funding special education, we would free up desperately needed funds schools across America could use to address their specific needs – whether it is state of the art classrooms, additional teachers or new textbooks.”

Special Needs Students Bullied, Left Out, Study Finds and Much More

Special needs students are left out and bullied more often than their peers, the Medical University of South Carolina concluded. Of note for the school bus community this comment from lead author Kimberly Twyman, M.D., MUSC Department of Pediatrics: "It is essential that parents, educators, and clinicians regularly ask children with special needs about their social experiences and reassure them that any problems will be effectively addressed." What are you doing for the special needs students on your bus to make sure they are not bullied?

What's the difference between "special needs" and and "disabled"? A mother of one boy says its more than just words. Food for thoughts. Comments posting are worth browsing through, too.

We've talked about swine flu and schools, but what about special needs children? The New York Times reports.

In Cleveland, doctors and lawyers are teaming up to help special needs children. According to the article, the city has a slightly higher than average portion of students receiving IEP services, but many parents are intimidated by the system. How's the school transportation community teaming to help students? How could it do it better?

The Supreme Court last week heard arguments about whether public schools should pay for educating special needs students in private schools. The Baltimore Sun offers one of several editorials on the issue, concluding:

... funding special education will remain a problem until some form of comprehensive education reform is enacted. Private institutions will never be able to make up for the failures of large numbers of public school special-ed programs that don't work. What's needed are across-the-board improvements in public education that also include raising the quality of instruction and services offered to children with special needs.