Seclusion and Restraint in Special Education

Seclusion and Restraint within Schools    
It seems almost everyday there is a news story about an autistic child being left on the bus. We as the viewers always wonder,"How is this possible? Don't drivers check the bus?". So parents of disabled children put their child on the bus and hope their child is returned safely. Now what would a parent do if their child was physically retrained or put in seclusion. I know if I heard my child was restrained, you had better restrain me because I would raise hell and make sure that everyone knew about the school.
So how often does this form of discipline occur in our schools? A research report conducted by the Council of Parent Attornies and Advocates reported that a majority of the children were in a special education classroom-not a lived classroom. Some of the restraints used were actually deadly. Following this report, the government investigated this issue and confirmed the previous reports findings. What is the proper recourse if your child is subjected to such behavior in an environment that should protect your child? I found a wonderful guide to help parents address these types of issues. It is titled,"Shouldn't School Be Safe?". It covers the areas of Prevention, Vigilance and Response. Another resource is the group working toward the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities.

The latest news is that the government is working to pass legislation that addresses developing guidelines for school administration when managing the disabled child. Unfortunately, this issue was not addresses as planned on July 12, 2012. This legislation has been a topic before Congress since 2009.  The bill is sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. However, While there is a similar proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican chair of the House education committee has indicated that he has no plans to address the issue.  There is a similar proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican chair of the House education committee Rep. John Kline has indicated that he has no plans to address the issue. How is it that abuse of our children has been placed at the bottom of government's list?

I request everyone to send a letter to Rep. John Kline detailing the importance of this legislation before your child is abused by the school system.

Congressman John Kline
U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Tel: 202-225-4527
Fax: 202-225-9571

Insurance and Autism

After my sons transitioned from Early Intervention to CPSE - Committee on Preschool Education, I became aware that some services would no longer be covered for my autistic son. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not recognize autism as a disability or disorder that requires treatment. This news was very disheartening. Not only was I angry, but with staggering statistics that 1 in 88 children are diagnosed on the spectrum, I could not imagine that this was true until I needed to get braces for my child's feet. As I reviewed our insurance policy, it actually stated specific services "related to" autism were not covered. The belief is that there is not enough evidence to validate that these services - physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, counseling, applied behavior analysis, floor time therapy, orthotics - help an autistic child. I had heard that there was an issue with coverage, but until now I had never encountered it. The good news is that recent legislation regarding the Affordable Care Act has changed to recognize the need for these services.

Here is an excerpt from an article posted on www.specialneedsalliance.com
"Supreme Court Healthcare Decision    By Morris Klein, CELA
The recent Supreme Court decision upholding most of the Affordable Care Act is an enormous victory for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Private health insurance policies will now be required to better meet their needs due to:
• elimination of caps on lifetime coverage;
• required coverage of pre-existing conditions without charging premium rates;
• mandatory provision of “essential benefits,” such as mental health services; speech, occupational and physical therapy for individuals born with disabilities; and ABA(Applied Behavior Analysis),a popular treatment for autism."

You can view the entire article at:
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/11/affordable-care-act-americans-disabilities.html#choices

Here are wonderful references covering many topics related to autism from birth to adulthood.......

"The Essential Guide to Autism" by Rachel Evans

"The Parent's Guide to Autism by Dave Angel"




Comments:

Autism and Stress

Hi, Everyone,
When my first disabled son was born, I knew he would not meet the milestones that are so often discussed with a pediatrician. I was fortunate to be directed to numerous doctors who guided me through the process.  In addition, I was immediately given the name of a Service Coordinator, who turned out to be my guardian angel. The service coordinator guides you through the legal system and helps you get the services you need.  They setup evaluations conduct meetings with the Health Department representatives.  It is confusing at first especially when you are overwhelmed by the fact that you have just been told your child has a disability.  The service coordinator also informs you of your rights as a parent, such as requesting additional evaluations.  You are provided with a handbook detailing your rights and what you can expect from the Health Department legal system.

When my autistic son was born, he was perfect in every way.  He was meeting milestones as should be.  Then, it seemed overnight he been more withdrawn, had no eye contact, flapped his arms and walked in circles.  He also had no sense of how to avoid objects as he walked or understood that he must step down when he walked on stairs. He also began walking in circles.  I was fortunate that I had a Service Coordinator whom I already knew to ask for help. Many parents are not so lucky and do not know where to begin.  How do I get help for my child who do I ask?  A pediatrician may direct you to a service coordinator provided by the state.  Service coordinators usually work for an agency as do all of the therapists.  There are many agencies who provide these services. You will be provided with a Transition service coordinator who will enter the government funded program - Early Intervention.  The program runs from when the child is born to 3 years old. Next, another service coordinator will be assigned to you to follow your child's progress.

Below I have provided a link to a site that discusses the process and how to manage your stress during this difficult time.

http://www.metroparent.com/Metro-Parent/February-2012/Milestones-and-Your-Child-Whats-Normal/ Click Here!

My children and I

Let me introduce myself.... My name is Geri.  I am the mother to 4 beautiful children - 3 boys and a girl.  Two of them were born happy and healthy - my other two full of strength and character with special needs.  My son, Christopher aged 6 was born with multiple birth defects. My son Edward aged 5 is autistic.  The common thread between my special needs children is prescription medication.  At the time of conception, I was taking an antidepressant.  what is critical to note is that I stopped immediately after I found out I was pregnant around 6-8 weeks.  It was too late. Unfortunately, each one I took was linked to birth defects and autism.  My mission is to make parents aware of the dangers of these medications and also to provide information on how to obtain compensation for the damages done to their children and family. Below I have provided a listing of medications and their effects.  Click on the link for additional information......

Prescription Drugs and Birth Defects

Recent studies, including one published in the New England Journal of Medicine, have discovered a link between SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants and an increased risk of developing severe birth defects. The study established that mothers who took any of the following drugs during their pregnancy increased the risk that their child would be born with a birth defect: Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Depakote, Effexor, and Pristiq.

About 90 percent of all pregnant women use prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs at some point during their pregnancy.  While many of these are safe to use when expecting, many types of drugs pose the threat of birth defects and should not be used by pregnant women. Doctors have a responsibility to prescribe to pregnant women only those medications that are absolutely necessary and that are safe for consumption during each particular stage of pregnancy. Failure to follow this medical standard may make this medical professional responsible for any birth defects with which a child is born.
Fact: As many as one in ten birth defects are caused by using OTC or prescription drugs during pregnancy.
Teratogenic medications can cause birth defects in three ways: 1) they can damage the fetus directly; 2) they can damage the placenta or umbilical cord, thus increasing the risk of birth defects; and 3) they can cause uterine contractions that can injure the fetus or cause premature delivery.

The following are just some of the drugs that are known to cause birth defects:

• Antibiotics: While penicillins, cephalosporins, and erythromycins are generally considered safe, tetracyclines, sulfa drugs, ciprofloxacin, and other antibiotics can cause birth defects when taken by a pregnant woman.
• Benzodiazepines: Tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety drugs can cause problems in newborns including breathing, temperature regulation, and muscle problems.
• Accutane and related dermatological drugs: Accutane poses an extremely serious risk of birth defects or death. This drug should never be used by a pregnant woman under any circumstances. Soriatane is also a dermatological drug that is extremely harmful to a developing fetus, and should not be used by any woman for three years prior to conception.
• NSAIDS: Aspirin and other drugs in the same family (salicylates) can cause birth complications and birth defects when used late in pregnancy.
• Antidepressants:
  • Paxil: In 2005, the FDA warned that Paxil can double the risk of heart birth defects when used during the first trimester of pregnancy.
  • Prozac: In 2006, a major study found that Prozac also doubled the risk of delivering a child with the birth defect PPHN (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension).
• Anti-cancer drugs: Teratogens such as Bulsulfan, Chlorambucil, Cyclophosphamide, Mercaptopurine, and Methotrexate can cause serious birth defects including cleft palate, underdevelopment, other physical defects and mental retardation.
• Anti-seizure medications: Anticonvulsants such as Toprimate and Valproate can cause serious birth defects including spina bifida, organ deformities, cleft palate, and facial defects.
• Certain thyroid medications
• Sex hormones
• Blood pressure drugs
• Asthma medications
• Live Vaccines
• Lithium
• Thalidomide

Below is a list of SSRIs and the corresponding birth defects.

DEPAKOTE: Depakote exposure during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of:

• Spina bifida
• Cleft palate
• Limb malformation
• Genital malformation
• Undescended testes
• Hypospadia
• Heart malformation
• Dysplastic ribs
• Neural tube malformations
• Death of the infant

EFFEXOR: Effexor has been linked to the following birth defects when infants are exposed to the drug in utero:

• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
• Central nervous system problems
• Respiratory issues
• Digestive system problems
• Hypoglycemia
• Behavioral issues
• Withdrawal

TOPAMAX: Topamax has been linked to the following birth defects:

• Cleft palate and cleft lip
• Genital malformation
• Other malformations

WELLBUTRIN: Wellbutrin has been linked to the following birth defects when an infant is exposed to the drug during pregnancy:

• Cardiac birth defects
• Narrowing of the main artery in the heart.

                                                                             (Aitkenlaw.com/birthdefects)

Effexor, Zoloft, Prozac and other SSRI Antidepressants Linked to Autism

A July 2011 Archives of General Psychiatry study found that women who took an SSRI antidepressant like Zoloft while pregnant were twice as likely to give birth to a child with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) than mothers who did not.  ASDs are complex developmental disabilities that cause problems with social interaction and communication.  The scientists who conducted the study have advised doctors and patients to carefully weigh the benefits vs. risks of taking SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Effexor, and Prozac carefully before beginning a regimen.

                                                                                           (orangecountylaw.com)

Additional Information:

New Paxil suits allege birth defect risk.: An article from: Trial
Counsel to correct antidepressant misinformation: before, during pregnancy.(Women's Health): An article from: Family Practice News