Post Date: 25th Jan, 2010 - 11:36pm / Post ID:
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Zakhqurey Price
I was shocked reading this story. First of all, because we're speaking about a child with autism but second because the principal and teacher who presented the charges against this child were NOT seriously injured, they did not even need medical attention!
QUOTE Carole Reynolds is desperate to help her eleven year old autistic grandson, Zakhqurey Price, who has been charged with multiple counts of felonious assault against two school district employees. The school is Beard Elementary in Fort Smith School District, Arkansas.
Reynolds says, "On August 18th, my 11 year old grandson started the school year, and we requested an evaluation be done as he was returning from another district that recommended he have an aide with him at all times. We tried to get an IEP together before school started in July and were refused and told to wait until school started."
Reynolds has been refused access to Zakh's records in spite of repeated requests. She said, "We have made requests to receive a copy of his evaluation/assessment results before the October 15th temporary placement IEP meeting and were refused because they said it was not allowed by state law."
"On October 15th, a temporary placement (Individual Education Plan) IEP meeting was held to start services because we felt they were not considering his previous tests or recommendations of Habberton House". Habberton House is a residential placement of the Ozark Guidance and Counseling center of Springdale Arkansas. The staff at Habberton felt that Zakh needed a full time aide, but none was offered. Even when the family specifically requested the aide at the IEP, the Beard school staff denied it.
Reynolds continued, "We repeatedly asked for a Functional Behavior Assessment FBA, and positive behavior plan with positive behavior strategies and supports, and the school to stop calling the police on my grandson. At the October 15th meeting, suggestions and guidelines were agreed upon but no formal positive behavior support plan was completed."
Reynolds is sure the suggestions from the meeting were not implemented. Worst of all, there was no positive behavior support plan in place As a result, Zakh had a meltdown two weeks later.
On Oct 30th, Zakhqurey exhibited behaviors manifested by his Autism, which led to restraints. The police were called. In the process of attempting to restrain him, two staff members were injured and filed felony charges against the 11 year old child. They cornered him and tried to take him down, he fought back. There were very minor injuries to principal and teacher. The fifth grader was taken away in handcuffs and booked with juvenile criminals. He has an IQ of 68....