I posted under bipolar disorder (not parents with bipolar disorder) about my son being shut in a room at school. I am angry now but was crying Friday. What would you do? Any advice?

Julie

Here is what I had posted - My son is seeing a second psychiatrist. The first one diagnosed him as bipolar with slight adhd but son refused to talk with her, just her associate. This was a couple of years ago. He was started at that time on bipolar and depression medication through his primary with consult with this psychiatrist.

He appears to need his meds increased. Primary refuses to do so until son sees new psychiatrist.

Started with new psychiatrist a couple of weeks ago. I had consult with him (husband injured so I went myself). Last week he consulted with our son. This week he is to meet with our son.

Friday, however, our son ran off during recess because he was afraid he was going to get in trouble for something he says he didn't do. A child had gone to the recess supervisor complaining that students said they didn't like him. She was calling the students over to her and my son was one of them. He ran to the end of the school property. Believe where he was was still school property but not absolutely sure.

They called me. I told them I would be right there. They said he'd be outside if they couldn't get him inside. I found out after that they bodily put him in someone's car, drove him to the school entrance and carried him inside. When I got there they had him in a very small white room (5' x 10' or so) without windows and were holding the door shut. They said they were letting him "cool down".

This is the first major problem they've had with him and this was how they handled it. He is 10 years old.

The principal told me he couldn't return to school until "YOU come up with a safety plan." I meet with the principal on Monday.

I feel angry now but was crying Friday night.

Any advice?

Julie

Julie
I'm so sorry I've been away for the weekend. And then was gone
all day.

But I am a advocate for children with disabilities in Indiana. I would
first ask you if he has a IEP or a 504 plan. If he does have one the
next step is does he have a Behavior Intervention Plan. If not then
you request a Functional Behavior Assessment.


This needs to be expedited. WHich means they do it as fast as they
possibly can. Because he is now considered a problem to either himself
or others.

Now if he does not have a IEP or 504 Plan. The first step is to
put in writing for a expedited educational Evaluation. Which is done
in 10 days. And you also at this time ask for the Functional Behavior Assessment. You request the evaluation for, emotional disability and
other health impairment and I would also request they do one for
specific learning disabilities.


If you need any thing else please ask. I will make sure I return to
check on you.

MY son graduated yesterday and I am working to get ready for his
party next week.

Donna

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Donna, posted a question under bipolar disorder before I read this. Which is better for him an IEP or a 504? Should I worry about him being teased for being "special" if he has one of these? Also, hear about some kids getting away with a lot of bad behaviors when they have one of these. Mentioned it to his psychiatrist today and he wanted to wait and discuss it at our next meeting which isn't for a few weeks. In the meantime, the school wants to meet before he can come back...

Thank you,
Julie

Dear Julie,

I taught H.S. and middle school briefly 25 years ago, so I am not informed exactly. I do remember that in the schools where I worked the administrators were hesitant to agree to parental requests. The administrators were however willing to do what they had to follow of the letter of the law.

A few years ago we did have a mother posting on these boards about her two sons and two adopted daughters with varying ranges of bipolar / adhd.
Because of her children, she learned how to deal with the schools and eventually got training to help parents deal with the schools. She moved on from here. The last we heard from her, the children were successful in school.


Here is a link about the difference between an IEP and a 504:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/504.idea.htm
The 503 plan does not need to be written whereas the IEP does.



I hope this helps. Your advocate will be well informed and will know how your local school functions.

M.

Julie
Mari is so correct. Now a IEP is a legal binding contract. And so technically
is a 504 and some states and schools do a much better job of following through with them. But in my dealings with schools a IEP is a much better plan. For a student with the kind of issues you are dealing with. And if there are any issues of learning difficulties at all then it diffentially is.

I have three sons that have different disabilities. They all had IEP's. They
had different experiences with other kids, and with how they dealt with the issues. But even though they could any of them tell you that it hurt them.

I can tell you that they are all three successfully doing something today.
In this economy. My oldest has a emotional handicap that wasn't diagnosed
for many years. And it took lots of time and love to get the right medications. And I honestly started thinking I would have to accept that I would be visiting him in jail for murder or something like this. But we were lucky that he was put into the juvenile justice system. And they decided to help us get him help. By placing him in a program for troubled teen boys needing a medical placement, not a bad kid placement. So we finally found the psychiatrist that found the diagnosis and medication that worked.
At 16 my son started to turn around his life. It was and is a hard road for
him. But he is a wonderful person, his doing his best to support his small
family and I'm so proud of him.

But he is my one that would tell you labeling him was bad for him. I can
tell you it didn't hurt him one bit.


I'm here, just ask the questions so we can help. Sometimes all you need
is for us to listen.

Donna