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The Watcher - Painting by Thomas Blackshear II |
I feel that I am finally
able to openly discuss the alarming event that occurred the fall of
this past school year. Some of the recent frustrations that I am
facing are a direct result of this and to give a better background I
am now going to put it all out there.
At around 3:30pm
Wednesday, September 28, 2011, I received a phone call from the school
where Ashton attended. As a parent, anytime the caller ID reads “THE
SCHOOL”, I think we innately freeze and our heart stops beating. I
personally think that biological response triples for those of us who
parent children with special needs.
The following is part of the
reason why....
“Good Afternoon Mrs.
Parker, I am calling to inform you that Ashton got out of the school
today.” “Please don't worry, he is safe now, but just wanted to call and let you know what happened.” The
“downplaying” of the event promptly followed.
Once I was able to get
the facts this is what occurred...
At lunch (around
10:30-11:00am), Ashton's 1:1 aide got up from the lunch table to fix
his oatmeal, once she was away from him, Ashton promptly got up from
the lunch table and proceeded to run through the cafeteria, down the
small rear hall and out the side doors leading outside. Once he was
outside the school he proceeded down the middle of the side road in
front of the school towards the major highway/byway the school
resides on (a major roadway where cars are know to travel the upwards
of 70 miles per hour-speed limit of 55). Thankfully when he was
about 15-20 feet from the highway a woman driving towards Ashton
stopped her minivan, got out and intercepted him. She then led him back to the school.
What isn't said here is
that I have recording after recording of IEP meetings (If you are not
sure what an IEP is read
here) prior to this event detailing his
known elopement behavior. Especially once I knew that this school
year would start with a brand new teacher, a brand new principal and
several new aides working within the classroom I made sure that I
over explained during several IEP meetings WHY we have a 1:1 written
in the IEP and the importance of someone being within arms reach of
Ashton in order to prevent something like that from happening.
There are many horrible,
terrible, devastating outcomes that I am sure were rushing through
your mind as you read the details of the event. I am beyond thankful
that Ashton's angels were working overtime that day and that nothing
horrible happened. It did not however, leave the school void of
responsibility. After multiple meetings it was finally decided that
it was appropriate for him to attend a private day school for
children with Autism at the county's expense. It was promised by the
new school, that he would have a 1:1 aide with him at all times and
thankfully we haven't had any successful attempts at elopement since
he started at his new school.
I am in shock at how well
he has done and how far he has come in the last several months since
this placement started. To find an environment where you see
tremendous growth in your child is priceless. It was like a huge
burden was lifted off of my shoulders, I felt like I didn't have to
fight so hard anymore. I felt like all my dreams had come true....No more
IEP meetings where you leave feeling like you want to crawl in a hole
and die, defeated. NO MORE!! These people really care!
On to recent
frustrations.....
On the last day of school
June 15, 2012 I received a lovely letter stating that due to the fact
that ownership of the school had changed hands and that the
curriculum was changing they were not going to be able to provide a
1:1 student/aide ratio any longer.
The event that occurred
in September came rushing back full force. After speaking with the
representative from the school that following Monday it was
ultimately determined that NO ONE was going to receive a 1:1 aide and
there was no way around that. They understood if I felt that
placement elsewhere was appropriate for him. A flood of emotions hit
me in that moment and I again felt defeated. What happened to not
having to fight anymore? What happened to thinking that “these
people REALLY have my sons best interest at heart”. I felt like an
environment that demonstrated without question to help him was being
pulled out from under him like a deceitful rug. After I said
somethings that I now regret, I sat in my car and cried. I cried one
of those ugly cries...you know the ones I am talking about. Make up
running, sobbing with the ugliest possible contortion to your
face...Yeah, that’s the one!
After a head slitting
headache and the drive home. I realized I can not do this on my own
anymore. Jon has never really been involved in the kids schooling.
That has been completely and utterly on my shoulders alone. I attend
IEP meetings alone, I go through IEP's alone, I research education
laws on my own, I draft/edit IEP goals on my own....I don't care if
he has no clue what is going on, I need support. We talked.
After I vented to Jon,
prayed and slept, I felt a little more refreshed the next day. I
called the representative back and started with an apology for my
emotional response and asked if we could call a meeting to discuss
options. We are talking about developing a safety plan for Ashton
that meets his needs to prevent elopement without a 1:1.
This is my prayer..please
join with me!
Heavenly Father, thank
you so much for continually keeping Ashton safe and getting him in
this program where he has shown so much growth. I know that you have
a plan for this situation and that you ALWAYS have his best interests
in mind. Please help us develop a plan that works. Please give
guidance to the teachers and aides that work with Ashton. I pray
that he continues to grow and learn in this new program. Above all,
please continue to keep him safe. Place your strongest and fastest
angels around him. In Jesus name, AMEN!