Leah BensonAre county services for developmental disabilities nothing more than urban myth?
September 16th 2008 10:08
Yarg! I'm a pirate!
Here we are, the beginning of another school year. Max just started second grade, but has already hurt numerous students and staff members with his aggression and temper-tantrums. We have an emergency meeting on Wednesday afternoon to work on a "Behavioral Intervention Plan." Apprently Max's new teacher has had to restrain Max multiple times in the past two weeks, however there is nothing in Max's IEP addessing the use of physical restraints.
Bloody noses, bruises, scratches... all inflicted on other students and staff support. A year ago we advocated that Max receive an individual one-on-one aid, but instead he was transferred to a more structured, supportive special education classroom (which was located in a completely diferent elementary school). And now here we are again. Our son is a danger to himself and others. We have NO county funding other then straight PCA services. We can't afford additional services, extra therapy, vitamin supplements, and so on. A year ago the county did a behavioral assessment and gave us a ten-page "recommendation" of how to correct Max's aggression. But there was not one thing in that report that didn't require out-of-pocket expenses.
I keep hearing all these stories about funding, about some family in some suburb who is getting $50,000 to buy trampolines and sensory integration tools for their mainstreamed, verbal, high-functioning child with Aspergers, or mild autism. And while I concede that those families obviously have skills that I lack-- i.e the ability to secure funding for their children, and more importantly, time that I lack-- i.e. two hours (minimum per day) to sit on hold and play phone tag with under-funded, over-loaded case managers, I can't help but wonder: why them? Why are their children getting trampolines while my son is becoming stronger and more dangerous everyday?
-Why did I have to save money for two months to buy metal screens for every window in my house just to prevent Max from shattering them in anger?
-Max is a danger to his bus driver, but we can't afford the special car seat that prevents kids from unbuckeling themselves while riding in the car.
-He needs PECS (picture exchange communication system) materials and supplies (he is completely non-verbal) but you guessed it-- we can't afford them!
-Today, why was I hit in the face, pushed down two stairs, drenched with a bucket of dirty plant water, and pushed against the paper-thin edge of basic sanity? Worse, why did I have poop in my hair instead of, say, gel? It's easy-- we don't have enough PCA help to give us respite, in fact we can barely cover the necessary time around work and school hours. (Not to mention the endless days of workshops and previously unrecognized holidays that keep special ed kids at home with their parents...).
I feel like I'm complaining-- and I am. But sometimes, on nights like tonight, when I'm sitting alone in the dark and reflecting back on my day... my week... my year... I can't but wonder why Max doesn't rate. What does it take exactly to receive that magic funding? Is it simply an urban myth or are there families out there, maybe in affluent suburbs or other states, that receive financial help with caring for their children who are suffering from profound and devastating disorders and mental disabilities? It just makes me so sad. My son is sinking and I'm standing on the dock watching him drop beneath the surface.
| 35 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
