I agree that you should mention the Americans with Disibilities Act.

Is the school a public school? If it is, it probably receives federal financial assistance right?

You can fill out a complaint form, saying you were and still are being discriminated by the school.

My mom is handicapped (knee replacements and spinal stenosis, plus she suffers long term damage from being in a coma when she was 17...damage that wasnt apparent until the last few years)

She's been treated badly by a lot of places. I've been noticing this since she started using a wheelchair (and canes, and walkers/rollators) One of the big problems has had to do with having access to vote (they locked the handicapped entrances at two places, and wouldnt unlock them for anything)

The other problems she's had has had to do with people just being rude, ignorant morons. I just came back from shopping at Sam's Club, adults and children behaving like untamed monkeys, pushing my mom and the store wheelchair out of their way...while my dad was pushing the chair! It's like my parents are invisible if one is sitting in the chair and the other is pushing it. I'm starting to like internet shopping more and more!


I'm going to go out and get myself a nice jewelry quality Medic Alert bracelet (allergic to nickel metal) and hope that will help me convince people that I have MS if I ever have a medical problem of some sort that makes me look drunk or if I end up on the ground and cant get back up again.

Where's Moose when we need him??

Sheena's in North Carolina. Moose is in North Carolina. I say a visit from our friend should fix the problem. . . .

Wow! That is unreal and pathetic....

I must say that Cherie did a much better job than I would have analyzing this from the outsider's perspective, but I agree with everything she said....

And Erin has a really really legitimate point.

I doubt sincerely that the lawyer for the school will find in the principal's behavior and ban legal. Hire a lawyer to write a letter to the board and threaten a suit. You won't have to follow through. They will do the right thing. Mention ADA. Mention your plan of action. Your lawyer will know exactly how to write this letter and I would ask him about contacting the media. You don't want to make the snake any more angry than it already is....You want the snake to lie there and wonder how powerful you are.....

I have dealt with two really pushy principals in the past, and they would have been just as ugly or uglier....one of them I really believe picked on the people she felt she could.

The hard thing for you will be to be courteous to this woman
in the future.

Vent with your friends who understand, let HER show her hiney. Don't let this woman get your goat!

As for being afraid of going out....you got excellent advice already.

I also will not walk in somewhere if I'm weak or "messed up"....

I hope this all works out for you.

I didn't think I had anything else to add! Guess this is a passionate incident for a lot of us! Good luck and keep us updated....

Peace.

WOW, I am so sorry to hear this, it's just awful that some one would treat you like that.

I sent you a PM, I have social anxiety and panic disorder.

Dear Sheena, my heart goes out to you. I too have taken the occassional tumble in public and the "knowing" stares from strangers are never nice.

I have not however, ever to had to deal with anything as disgraceful as the treatment you received..

Sending you Koala hugs................

.

They're a 501(c)3 organization right? United Way funded at all?

Hit 'em where it hurts--talk to the United Way if they're U.W. funded and tell them how shoddily you were treated, that you have MS, and that you absolutely cannot understand how an organization like that could treat a disabled woman so poorly.

Go directly to the top of the Y's management--and if they're part of an umbrella organization (I don't know if the Y is a national organization like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts), but hit 'em THERE too!!

Forget their local attorney, forget the local Y--at least unless you have to.

Sheesh......... As a matter of fact, I'd say that I'd hate to send my kid there if they're going to learn not to accept people with disabilities as a result of attending school/classes/functions/activities there. The Y is about opportunity. Part of life is expanding your horizons. The Y should be teaching acceptance--not discrimination.

And don't you DARE let a stupid problem like this (and yes, I know it hurt) stop you from going out in public. There are very ignorant people out there and you happened to run into some of them.

I"m so angry FOR you.

Aww Sheena
That just makes my blood boil. You've gotten lots of excellent advice. And I just want you to know, that you have the support of us all and alot of laws behind you to boot.

I'm hoping you get some help with this anxiety. As this MS is isolating enough without the situation you endured to compound the problems.

Please keep us posted. Sending lots of hugs.

oh, I forgot to say earlier...

Sheena, anxiety can be treated.

Lorazepam (Ativan) was helpful for me, for short-term relief of acute social anxiety induced by a serious family crisis.

you need to be very careful with using a medicine like Lorazepam, it can harm unborn babies, mixes very badly with alcohol, and it's addictive, but if you really need to get out, to shop and take care of your kids, it can be an invaluable aid... as long as you use the absolute minimum to get over the panic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorazepam



PS: I'm still *steaming* over how you were treated by this judgmental and ignorant principal... I'm having difficulty getting this one off of my mind. I really feel for you, and am holding you in my thoughts.

Sheena I am so sorry you had to go through this.

Like others, this really, really bothered me and upset me that someone would treat you this way.

Years ago I taught at a preschool. This dad would come in and would appear drunk but we just weren't quite sure. One day it was clear that he was drunk and smelled of alcohol. According to our DES office we could not keep the girls from him but could call the police with his license plate number and let them know the situation. Of course that particular day my boss was gone and I was in charge. I had to call the police with the information. I felt kind of guilty as I knew the trauma that it would put the girls through. However, I knew that by calling it could potentially save the girls from getting hurt should they get in an accident.

They way the principal handled this was inappropriate. By her actions she affected not only you but your DD's dad, your husband, and more importantly your DD. Even though she is only 6 years old she knew something was out of the ordinary and how scary for her. She knew something wasn't right with her mom and yet she got separated from her mom. How traumatic for a not only a little one but for any child. Did the principal even consider the affects on your daughter? Believe it or not that is a form of abuse on the principals part. She victimized both you and your daughter.

So, what can be done? I am not sure. Right now you have so much going on it is hard to take on another battle. It's so easy for me to say call the newspaper or local TV station, scream, yell do whatever. But I know how I am when I don't feel well. It's difficult to have to do something like this.

However, it really, really needs to be addressed in some way. The way this principal handled the situation affected the lives of you, your DD, your ex-husband, and your DH and in a big way. If you have the support of your ex, ask for his assistance in this after all it is his daughter that went through this unnecessary drama all because this principal lost control. (Who in their right mind would hold down a person that possibly was drunk or on drugs? LOL. Not me.). Plus, the affects that this has had on you. You are now dealing with social anxiety that was no there before.

You requested an attorney and I think that enlisted one may be a good idea. Sometimes a letter from an attorney could do wonders. The letter should be addressed to not only the superintendent but the principal and the director of the Y. Hey, the Y does not look kindly on their employees or affiliates treating people with disabilities poorly.

Remember, you catch more bees with honey than vinegar. You could offer to help educate the principal as well as other parents and kids about MS so they have a better understanding of what it is like to have a neurological type condition.

As for the social anxiety, counseling will help as long as you can get there. It doesn't help if you can't get there due to the anxiety itself. A good start would be to call your PCP and/or neuro and explain the anxiety to them and go from there. A anti-anxiety medication can help you through not only the social anxiety but the anxiety of being newly diagnosed.

HereKitty had a great idea about the groceries. Many places do deliver. There may be a small fee ($10.00) but that may help you through it. Also, Amazon . com has a grocery section. There prices are comparable to the grocery stores. I would, however, use this as a temporary fix as I don't think it would your best interest to use it all the time. It would then make it easier for you not to go anywhere by yourself which will only add to some of the anxiety as well as a loss of independence - something many of us MSer's strive to maintain.

Let us know how you are doing. Sending lots of cyber's your way and wishing you the best in whatever you decide to do regarding this situation.

Hi all, I really have not felt much like posting until today. I think I'm looking at another exacerbation soon so I'm going to try to get a work in appointment today. I'm not on any meds as I'm waiting for my approval on TY. It is taking too long to set up.
I just really want to thank each of you for responding. I don't think I could have made the last few days w/o your replys. There is something in every post that seems to give me more emotional strength.
I never got a letter so I guess they are waiting on me to do something. At this point they can keep on waiting. I have to take care of me. I would love to get an attorney and got after them, but after reading the law title ll and III of ADA I can see how they are trying to cover theirself and how complicated this would get in court. When I feel better, I guess I'll start by writing an unofficial letter requesting all rights back. Like many, I can see how they might have had reason to call the police, but no more. If the police had truly thought I was drunk I would have been taken in on public intoxication or drunk and disordly. Since I was not, it should have ended there. Thank you again for your support and help. Sheena
Oh, with your help, I made it to the grocery store a few days ago!