School Safety and the Disabled Child

We are all devastated by the school shooting in Broward.  Every parent worries about their child’s safety at school when these types of events occur.  For parents of children with disabilities, school safety raises a host of issues.

If your child’s disability affects their communication, behavior, socialization, or emotionality, then chances are you have been thinking about school safety for a long time.  Maybe you are concerned that your child will be victimized.  Maybe you are concerned that your child will harm, or be perceived as a threat to, others. Maybe you are worried about how your child will react in a threatening situation. It is important to speak frankly and openly about these issues.

  1. Your child has a right to attend school.   Fearing for your child’s safety, whether you are afraid for their physical or emotional well-being, is legitimate. More and more lately, I’ve heard of parents removing their children from schools due to safety concerns. Every parent has the right to make that choice for their child, however no one should feel compelled to choose between school and safety. Schools have an obligation to provide the services, resources and accommodations to keep all students, including those with special needs, safe.
  2. Bullying is a school safety issue. If your child has a disability, and is the target of bullying, then the school has an obligation to address the bullying through the IEP process. A school’s failure to protect a child with a disability from bullying may be considered discrimination. Moving a child without addressing the underlying issues of why they were victimized, and without providing them with the help to overcome the trauma of the bullying, is a cosmetic fix to a deeper issue which may manifest in the future.
  3. Schools must help children with behavioral and emotional challenges.  Children act out for a variety of reasons. Maybe they tantrum or become physically aggressive due to a lack of communication skills.  Maybe they make threats to avoid certain anxiety-inducing scenarios. Maybe their disability causes them to self-harm or react violently to sensory stimuli.  Schools have an obligation to proactively address these issues through the IEP process.

The IEP process and positive behavior intervention plans actually work to change behaviors.  In order to be effective, though, the IEP and  behavior plan must be thorough, data-driven and implemented with fidelity through a partnership between the school, family and community.

Unfortunately, many families feel frustrated by the process and, quite legitimately, feel let down by their schools.  From the school’s perspective, it may be easier to push out, exclude or isolate these challenging children.  But let’s be clear:  (1) all children have the right to attend and be safe at school, and (2) the IEP process, when done right, can help keep our children safe.  When our children gain the coping, communication and social skills they need to successfully navigate their schools and communities, then we are all safer.

 

 

Shahar Pasch is an attorney practicing education law in Palm Beach County.

This blog post is for educational purposes only, not to provide specific legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader.

Why hire an education lawyer?

One of the questions we get most frequently is why should a parent/caregiver chose a lawyer, and not an advocate, for their child’s special education case? The simplest answer is that a lawyer can help level the playing field. The School District, and their employees, have access to lawyers. Certainly, in Due Process case, the School District will be represented by an attorney at settlement conferences, depositions and hearings. By hiring an attorney for your special education case, you will have someone trained in the nuances of litigation and evidence, familiar with the relevant case law, and able to put forth the best legal argument on your behalf. Advocates, while they may be familiar with education law, simply do not have the legal training that an attorney can bring to the table.

But what if your case is not necessarily heading towards due process? Perhaps you want to try to obtain services, evaluations or accommodations through negotiations. Here again, it is important to have the right person helping you through this process. Hiring an attorney signals to the School District that you are serious about your requests. The right attorney can interface with the School District so that the important decision-makers are brought to the IEP table. Attorneys are trained in negotiations and mediations, and can help guide you towards an amicable resolution.

The most important question, though, is not whether to hire an attorney or an advocate, but rather is the person you chose to be your voice the right fit for your family. At our firm, we believe it is important to strike a balance between zealous advocacy on behalf of the child’s needs and preserving the relationships with school personnel that you and your child need to work with on a daily basis. We understand how difficult and personal this process can be, and so we aim to preserve relationships and strengthen communication between the parties whenever possible. If you are experiencing difficulty obtaining the resources your child needs, then call us to help you determine the right path towards helping your child succeed.

Florida legislature passed a law allowing for open enrollment

There is a lot of discussion about choosing schools. Last year, the Florida legislature passed a law allowing for open enrollment. The School District of Palm Beach County just put out their new policy on how they intend to apply this law. The rule is below with a link to their website. It is important to note that only schools that are more than 10% empty will be open to enrollment. I expect the District will list the available schools and impose deadlines to apply.

If your child is struggling in their current school, or you are looking for alternative options, this may be a good route. Here is the informative posted by the School District’sChoice Programs Office: