Handcuffed
September 24, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Yes, another autistic child gets handcuffed and, as reported by WSMV (Nashville) today, put into the back seat of a police car. 10-year-old Heath Burk had “acted up at school”:
Felicia Burk adopted Heath and his sister Scarlett two years ago. Both of them have autism. She said Heath can get out of control, but he isn’t supposed to be restrained, as that only makes him act worse. Tuesday when he acted up, the Murfreesboro City school called the police.
“I didn’t like it,” said Heath of the hand-cuffing.
“The special-ed supervisor told me he was in a police car because I had complained last week that he was physically restrained and had bruises on his arm,” said Burk.
School officials do not have a comment at this time. A police representative said the boy was calm when the officer arrived. The officer said the boy asked to sit in the patrol car and be handcuffed.
But Heath’s mom said she was told a different story. “I was told later that Heath was kicking in the car, so they put handcuffs on him,” she said.
Previous reports of autistic children being handcuffed in school in North Carolina (see also here); in California;
Please keep bringing stories like this to everyone’s attention!! Thanks for posting this.
I do have a question since we have worked and worked and worked and at 9 still work, to deal with my eldest behaviours and therefore he is easily mainstreamed into the school system. The worst is at home, but he’s learned, head slam, throw or trash stuff, tv, computer, DS etc… all gone.. for HOURS.
Why is it ok for a child with autism to terrorize others?? My SIL’s school where she teaches had one removed this spring to a special class b/c he terrorized the children in his Gr 3 class – they ahd to be taken out of class so he could destroy things b/c they couldn’t get him out of it – Temple Grandin says in her talks that, that behaviour is not appropriate and should be taught that it isn’t appropriate.
If you can teach an NT 2 to 4 yr old appropriate behaviour… you can teach one with ASD.
It just takes more work.
My severe one, has assaulted ONE (ABA Therapist) in 7yrs. Why?? B/c it was fight or flight and since it was his home, opted to fight. Then I got rid of them. Otherwise, as I spoke to his teacher yesterday morning (full inclusion, regular classroom, full support)… he’s a full, contributing, and well liked, member of their classroom. Never harmed anyone.
S.
The officer who handcuffed Heath Burk has been cleared of charges, as reported by MSCBC today.
Both of my sons are PDD-NOS, but Aiden is the one who reacts physically when he gets overwhelmed. When he was seven, I got a phone call at work from the police that they were going to “Baker Act” him due to an outburst on a field trip. I was able to talk them into waiting until I got there.
Why is it so difficult for other people to see the build up of these melt downs, or to know that certain things are triggering the reaction? If a child is responding to overwhelming sensory stimulation, then restraining the child will cause a much more violent reaction. It would be like handcuffing an individual that was suffering from a severe attack of claustrophobia. The child could have dislocated his own shoulder.
This is not only the child’s problem. Right before Aiden’s 7th b-day, I was picking him up from school 3x a week due to either a physical altercation or he had ran out of the classroom. Now, a year and a half later, I’ve received one phone call all year that he had ran out of class, no physical violence. The difference is that the last school year began with a new Vice Principal and Guidance Counselor. They have paid attention and worked with him in school, and now, after a year, he is doing work and learning.