Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Proof that Canadian school officals are just as dumb as their American counterparts

Leto · 06-19-2008, 07:45 AM

Just to keep the followup on this story current... here is an update from today's news.

It appears that the school board (and it's one that I attended back in the day - god give me strength!) remains steadfast in their handling of the situation.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_23950.aspx

No Apology From School Board After Psychic Sex Abuse Report
Wednesday June 18, 2008

CityNews.ca Staff

Colleen Leduc was the unknown Barrie mother of an 11-year-old autistic child who was facing an uncertain future.

All that changed on Monday, when CityNews brought you the exclusive and unbelievable story of the reason her daughter is no longer in school and why she can't work: an education assistant's unsubtantiated claim from a psychic that the little girl was being sexually abused and the School Board interpreting some typical autistic behaviour as a justification to report it to the Children's Aid Society.

The CAS quickly dismissed the allegations, calling them 'ridiculous,' but Leduc is unhappy that the board took the word of a seer who didn't know anything about her daughter.

Since we aired her case, she's been the lead story in her local paper and her phone has been ringing off the hook from media and talk show hosts across Ontario and the GTA, including parents of other autistic children regaling her with similar tales of troubles with other school boards.

She's also received a lot of support from the public, who understand the difficulty she's having raising a child with special needs. "People are very touched by Victoria's story and they think it's incredibly unjust what happened to her," she observes.

The board has admitted the issue could have been handled better, but notes under the law they had to file a report regardless of the source. That does little to placate the still stunned mom. "I'd like to see more staff in the school board be educated on autism," she demands. "And everything that that requires."

She's long believed officials at the school, Terry Fox Elementary, have not taken proper care of her daughter, accusing them of losing her at least twice in the past. She knows Victoria needs more care but the IBI therapy the non-verbal child should be getting is prohibitively expensive. And Leduc is convinced this latest incident is more proof that the board should pick up the tab.

For now, she's pulled Victoria from the school and has been forced to "put her business on hold" to stay home on stress leave to take care of her. The child has been without any help for three weeks now and Leduc sees her regressing.

The board is conducting its own probe into what happened but insists it was just following the rules. "School staff and administrators refer to the Children's Aid Society for advice and recommendations regarding appropriate actions and steps to take or not to take as the situation dictates," a statement by the Simcoe County District School Board outlines.

It's the response Leduc had expected but didn't want from officials. She was hoping for an apology and a sign they understand the special problems kids like Victoria face. They met with her on Tuesday, bringing her a fruit plate as a peace maker. It sits mostly ignored in her kitchen.

Does she think she'll ever get an 'I'm sorry' from the board? "No," she notes thoughtfully. "If it takes this long to receive an apology, I don't think it's going to happen."

Meanwhile, Leduc went to visit a new school on Wednesday, one that has a class especially for autistic children. And on Thursday, Victoria will be assessed by a specialist to see what her educational needs are.

Leduc has been through a lot over the past month but as the parent of a child with the mysterious problem, she knows those troubles are likely for life. What will help get her through this? "Better understanding and education for autistic children," she declares.

"These children are like little angels," she adds. "There's people inside of these kids. And even though they're non-verbal, we have to be very verbal for them."

So far, this is one mother who has managed that beyond her own imagining.

CityNews has received a flood of viewer emails since this story first aired on Monday.

06-19-2008, 07:45 AM	#14 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	Just to keep the followup on this story current... here is an update from today's news. It appears that the school board (and it's one that I attended back in the day - god give me strength!) remains steadfast in their handling of the situation. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_23950.aspx No Apology From School Board After Psychic Sex Abuse Report Wednesday June 18, 2008 CityNews.ca Staff Colleen Leduc was the unknown Barrie mother of an 11-year-old autistic child who was facing an uncertain future. All that changed on Monday, when CityNews brought you the exclusive and unbelievable story of the reason her daughter is no longer in school and why she can't work: an education assistant's unsubtantiated claim from a psychic that the little girl was being sexually abused and the School Board interpreting some typical autistic behaviour as a justification to report it to the Children's Aid Society. The CAS quickly dismissed the allegations, calling them 'ridiculous,' but Leduc is unhappy that the board took the word of a seer who didn't know anything about her daughter. Since we aired her case, she's been the lead story in her local paper and her phone has been ringing off the hook from media and talk show hosts across Ontario and the GTA, including parents of other autistic children regaling her with similar tales of troubles with other school boards. She's also received a lot of support from the public, who understand the difficulty she's having raising a child with special needs. "People are very touched by Victoria's story and they think it's incredibly unjust what happened to her," she observes. The board has admitted the issue could have been handled better, but notes under the law they had to file a report regardless of the source. That does little to placate the still stunned mom. "I'd like to see more staff in the school board be educated on autism," she demands. "And everything that that requires." She's long believed officials at the school, Terry Fox Elementary, have not taken proper care of her daughter, accusing them of losing her at least twice in the past. She knows Victoria needs more care but the IBI therapy the non-verbal child should be getting is prohibitively expensive. And Leduc is convinced this latest incident is more proof that the board should pick up the tab. For now, she's pulled Victoria from the school and has been forced to "put her business on hold" to stay home on stress leave to take care of her. The child has been without any help for three weeks now and Leduc sees her regressing. The board is conducting its own probe into what happened but insists it was just following the rules. "School staff and administrators refer to the Children's Aid Society for advice and recommendations regarding appropriate actions and steps to take or not to take as the situation dictates," a statement by the Simcoe County District School Board outlines. It's the response Leduc had expected but didn't want from officials. She was hoping for an apology and a sign they understand the special problems kids like Victoria face. They met with her on Tuesday, bringing her a fruit plate as a peace maker. It sits mostly ignored in her kitchen. Does she think she'll ever get an 'I'm sorry' from the board? "No," she notes thoughtfully. "If it takes this long to receive an apology, I don't think it's going to happen." Meanwhile, Leduc went to visit a new school on Wednesday, one that has a class especially for autistic children. And on Thursday, Victoria will be assessed by a specialist to see what her educational needs are. Leduc has been through a lot over the past month but as the parent of a child with the mysterious problem, she knows those troubles are likely for life. What will help get her through this? "Better understanding and education for autistic children," she declares. "These children are like little angels," she adds. "There's people inside of these kids. And even though they're non-verbal, we have to be very verbal for them." So far, this is one mother who has managed that beyond her own imagining. CityNews has received a flood of viewer emails since this story first aired on Monday.