I have shared we are wanting to move to hopefully find a better school placement for Blake. I have shared that he has had a tough year. I have shared of my stress and worry with things that occurred at school that did not sit right with me. I have shared that he was becoming more resistant to go to school. I shared of my heartache wondering what was happening to cause him so much distress. I shared that behavior speaks volumes when you have a child who is nonverbal and can’t relay information. I shared that he ultimately refused to go to school. I shared all of this with you AND his service providers.
The one thing I did not share here were these photos of injuries Blake sustained at school. I did share them with the program that provides his services as they occurred.
This is why we put him on homebound services vs sending him to his school placement.
There were no cameras in his school, which was a worry for me from the start.
The administrators relayed they feel these bruises were not inflicted with intention to harm him. That means NOTHING to me. They did harm him and obviously did not use the restraint methods they were trained to use. Actually, I did not receive a single notification of restraint the entire year. Obviously, that is not accurate.
I am very familiar with the restraint methods the staff are trained to use as I work (soon to be ‘formerly worked’) for this special ed coop. We deal with the same behaviors at home and he never went to school with bruises such as this on his body.
There is so much more that filled this year from hell but I would think this is enough to explain why we need to move on.
Yes, we are in contact with an attorney as we have not been able to make a move prior to the start of the next school year. Sadly, placement options are very limited, as you all are well aware. Also, without proof of intentional harm, we have nothing. Smart wording on their part. Due Process is still an option.
One thing for sure, he will not return to his former classroom placement as I have lost all trust.
I have not been as attentive to my page for obvious reasons. Things will get much more stressful in the coming weeks and my focus needs to be on my boy and the changes to come. I am stressed to the max and praying his next school placement is one that he is safe and happy!
🤞🙏🤞🙏