Comments on: Mother arrested following death of 5-yr-old AZ boy

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:51:36 +0000

I never heard of this particular case before. Guess I was behind in my alerts and never got back to that email. What a sad outcome that should never have occurred.

By: Brandon Williams Was Only 5

Brandon Williams Was Only 5 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:21:40 +0000

[...] Brandon Williams died on Wednesday night, March 21st, 2007. His mother, Diane L. Marsh, had given him six to seven [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:44:46 +0000

Sara, thank you so much for writing about Brandon…. am feeling sad and more all over.

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:45:22 +0000

They had attempted to mainstream Brandon into my child’s kindergarten classroom this past fall. It was clear from Parent Night (before the school year started) that Brandon was at risk. The mother was at a complete loss as to how to handle his tremendous outbursts at that meeting. She was clearly losing control in front of us. I was relieved my child was not there to witness it – children were not supposed to have been at the meeting.

I know that CPS (Child Protective Services) was called during his short stay at my child’s school as well as during his short stay in a “self-contained” classroom in a different public school later that fall. It’s my understanding that he was suddenly removed from that self-contained classroom and that the school was not able to contact the family – they apparently moved.

One news article mentioned that a County Juvenile Court case involving Brandon was started in January. I don’t know anything about that. Wouldn’t CPS be aware of that case and therefore know where he was? CPS was clearly aware of the danger he was in. They were contacted by at least two schools and who knows how many concerned parents of Brandon’s classmates.

All I ever saw was parents, teachers and school staff trying at great length to help this child. I’m so angry that he was not removed from his horrible home. I’m so angry and so sick to my stomach I can’t see straight.

Still crying… and apparently still needing to vent,
Sara

By: K.C.'sMommy

K.C.'sMommy — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 06:32:08 +0000

I live in AZ. but have not read this story until now. My heart breaks for this little boy. How could people be so barbaric and cruel to a child? Sad, so very sad.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:31:30 +0000

Thanks, Jennifer—-and I’m gathering from the article that Brandon was not in a regular preschool program where the physical abuse could have been noted.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:25:13 +0000

“If the child had a diagnosis of autism, ought a case manager or other social worker to have been following his case?”

Not necessarily. I have had a couple of students move in from out of state that didn’t know how to access – nor, in one case, even about – California’s Regional Center System.

Likewise, in my brother’s case, my parents went several years without hearing from them – he was assessed at an intake assessment when he was about 3, but no one checked up on him again until he was in high school and we sought help for problems we were having with his school. After that, they’ve been in regular contact.

I suppose I should say, yes, someone ought to have been following him — but if AZ’s bureaucracy is anything like CA’s, it’s quite possible they were not.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:27:39 +0000

If the child had a diagnosis of autism, ought a case manager or other social worker to have been following his case?

By: Daisy

Daisy — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:18:48 +0000

There is a big difference between “medicating” for the benefit of a child and “drugging” for the benefit of someone else. How awful.

By: Autism Vox » What will Charlie inherit?

Autism Vox » What will Charlie inherit? — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:27:53 +0000

[...] welcoming place for autistic persons. It will not be an easy legacy to create in light of one terrible event this week and so much misunderstanding about autism—-but I think it would make Charlie, and [...]