Autism, ADHD, and the Public School System

Autism, ADHD, and the Public School System

                I was reading the Fall 2023 ADDitude magazine when I discovered a bit of important information on IEP’s and other student plans.  The article, “Off the Books”, written by Susan Yellin, Esq. dives into the reality that many parents with disabled children face in public schools. In the case of my son, who is non-verbal, this is very much a reality.

For example, Yellin describes the situation where your anxious or threatened 5^th grader lashes out through yelling or pushing another student. Then, a month later, you are called by the school principal to pick up your child early for fighting. The school then says that your child cannot eat in the cafeteria. Following this, your child is told they cannot ride the bus. This usually continues, where the parent must constantly come in and pick up their child.

                This very common practice is known as informal removal or “off the Books Suspension”. My son, for example, was in third grade when this happened. It was not until he was placed in a group home, four years later, that he was able to go back to school. From that point on, he did very well in school, has had amazing teachers, and graduated this year.  What I did not realize was that no student can be excluded from school, or from part of the school day, without at least “due process”, notice of the school’s intent to exclude the student, and their Chance to explain what happened. For students with an IEP, (IDEA) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act dictates that students with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education. If that student is in any way acting out, or not functioning appropriately, the IEP team MUST look at the IEP to see how their student’s behavior may be related to their disability. After performing a functional behavioral assessment, the team must then agree on fixing the students’ IEP.  This “Off the Books” way of handling student behavior is illegal.  A list of informal school removal policies, practices, and remedies can be found at additu.de/isr-report.

                I chose to homeschool my son, though he really missed public school. I wanted him to go back so that he could socialize, though I could not send him back to previous schools.  His behavior showed me that he was terrified, so I could only guess that his experiences were upsetting to him. I was fortunate that when he returned, he then had a wonderful experience going forward.  While I understand that there are many wonderful teachers who feel burdened by the pressure to manage a lot of frustrating behaviors, the school system did little to help. While I believe we have a right to fight this, it is also ok to switch classes or schools if needed, as public-school settings can be abusive. Make sure to document everything, and demand to see your child’s school records as well.