They lost Adam

[Claire]

Adam had an appointment at 2pm on Tuesday so I sent a note to school stating that I would pick him up at 1:30pm. I got to school at 1:20pm and they were having their recess so I waited by the secretary desk. All of a sudden I see a little bundle of red at the end of the hallway.
I realized it was Adam and was waiting for his EA to come in and get him as I didn't want him to start coming in from school all the time thinking I would be there.

He walked into the first class that he saw, so I went over. I got him out of the class and of course told him he was not to come in without Mrs. Kim until the "ding dong" bell rang.So I sat him beside the door of his classroom and decided to wait to see how long it would take them to realize he was missing.
The school bell rang and Adam's teacher came out of the teacher's lounge all surprise to see us there. She said " Oh you're already in Adam?" I said " No he's been here for 4 minutes (I checked the time) and no one has come looking for him yet."
She was very upset (she's a great teacher) but with all the cutbacks on EA's they are all overworked.
We went to the principal office not in a good mood at all. They assured me that another full time EA would be outside with him from now on. I also asked for another meeting with everyone concerned including the Board Representative and ask that this incident be documented.

Well we had our meeting today. They can give Adam an 100% EA outside but not in the classroom.
Right now in the classroom there are 7 kids. Adam 9= DS, 2 Triple-X twins-18, 1 child DS and Autistic-15 who needs 100% supervision as he has a feeding tube and a choking tube and is non functional, the other child has Autism also 15 and has a 100% EA and a working dog, and one has Williams disease.
My point is all that they are putting my son and all the others at risk by not having enough staff. There is only 1 teacher and 3 EAs. 2 of these EAs are 100% with 2 children so that leaves one EA and the teacher for 5 high care needs kids.

What do we have to do as parents to make the Ministry of Education that our kids need to be safe and get some kind of education? If I hadn't showed up when I did I probably would have never known. And I don't even want to think of what may have happened to Adam. Adam is the energizer bunny on roller blades I tell you.
I am still fighting to get another EA in the class and I guess they won't like me, but then as I told them this morning my priority is my child's safety and education and not making friends.
Thanks for letting me vent.

PS: By the way on the more positive side of things the Human Rights Commission Investigation looks like the Board from Adam's old school is sweating bullets as this was there 3 investigation in 5 years so now the ministry of Education is coming down on them and they want to settle as they have already spent too much on lawyers fees. But we are in no rush, I plan on making them squirm a little longer. ;D Maybe they will think twice next time about how they treat children with special needs.

[CC]

Hmmm Claire if you don't mind me asking, those numbers by the children's DX, is that their Age??

If thats is what the number is, what the heck is Adam doing in a class with 15 and 18 years old??

Hope things work out for you.

CC ~

[Claire]

Yes CC it is the age of the children. Like I mentioned before we are in a small communitty where Adam is the only child with DS. This is the only special needs class in town. After all the frustrations cause by the abuse last year at the other school, it was impossible to have gim in a regular class all day because of his behavior.

Each child has their own individual program and Adam is integrated with grade one for music, gym and art, grade 2 for recess and lunch, and Sr, Kindergaten for his centre time which is for his speech and communication skills and play time.
He is also in swimming lessons, a bowling team and a basketball team but again with older people then him with intellectual disabilities, execpt for bowling and swimming he is is with typical children. He won the skunk trophy 4 years in a row in bowling. ;D. I don't like it but we still need to have him part of things. And I don't really think Adam minds the age difference as they are all his friends. We did think of moving to a bogger city but because of our age and my husband has had his business for 22 years it would be almost impossible to start over somewhere else.

The only way we get to be around kids with DS Adam's age is when we go to Sudbury which is a 4 hour drive for their annual Christmas parties and their picnic in the summer.
That's why I post often I really feel alone in all of this sometimes.

[shellk]

Claire,
I feel for you....Kourtney was not being watched at PE and not only did she throw 2 large balls over an 8ft chain link fence....She also threw her glasses....Sadly they all landed in a pond with a 6 foot alligator....Needless to say....Momma Bear here...called the Super Intendent of schhol yelling neglect on the schools end...And the janitor had to get knee deep in a pond with the alligator....to get those glasses.


Michele

[Claire]

Good for you Michelle. Let me tell you that they sure know I mean business when they see me. I guess because I may be the only one with such a young child with a disability in our school, it makes me the bad one as I am always the one questioning.

I have also helped several families get the help they needed for their child in schools, so in a way I guess I am know as the advocate here. I do know my son's rights and all the wonderful policies. I sat on the Board of Community Living for 4 years and Special Education Parent Representative on the School Board for 3 years. ( Very boring ) All that just to learn to speak their language and also learn their policies and get ammunition to fight my battles.
But then that is why we pay taxes right. God knows how high our Canadian taxes are?

I believe firmly in awareness and education when it comes to Adam but not when it comes to his safety, then their are no BUT'S about it.