A Bronx mother is demanding answers after her 6-year-old son with autism returned from an occupational therapy session on March 28 with visible bruises, the family says. She says she dropped him off at a SEED Saturday program in Morrisania and took him straight to the hospital when staff brought him back. The boy told his mother, “Mom, they hit me like that… they slapped me and kicked me… and my spine hurts a lot,” according to the family.
Medical records the family provided show staff documented bruising to the child’s face and left upper arm and flagged concerns about possible child abuse. A Department of Education report obtained by the family, however, offers a different account. The DOE report says the boy became upset during his occupational therapy session and repeatedly threw himself to the floor, and that the injuries may have occurred during that episode, according to News 12 Bronx.
DOE’s statement: staff trained to de-escalate
In a statement to reporters, the Department of Education said SEED program staff are trained to implement individualized de-escalation strategies and that sessions are staffed by multiple therapists and supervisors. “NYC Public Schools remain committed to providing safe, supportive, and inclusive environments for all students,” the DOE said in its statement to News 12 Bronx. The mother says that explanation does not satisfy her and that she will continue pushing for a full investigation.
State rules and reporting on restraints
New York has revised reporting rules for behavioral interventions in recent years and requires districts to document certain uses of timeout, restraint and seclusion for students with disabilities. The State Education Department maintains guidance on how schools must record and report those interventions and related events, according to the New York State Education Department. Investigations and reporting have shown restraint and seclusion remain contentious in the state, with advocates warning the practices can be under-reported and traumatic for children, according to an investigative series in the Times Union.
What investigations typically look like
Allegations of possible abuse at a school can prompt multiple reviews: the city’s Administration for Children’s Services handles child-protective reports, and the DOE can open its own administrative inquiry into staff actions and program practices. The ACS site explains how family and community members can report suspected abuse and access supports, and national coverage shows thousands of interventions involving students with disabilities in recent years, a backdrop that helps explain why families press for independent probes after injuries are reported. For background on reporting and national trends, see the Administration for Children’s Services and reporting by Education Week…