Bruise
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| Mon, 07-24-2006 - 4:37am |
And you should see it. On the underside of Malcolm's upper arm and it is HUGE and deep and very purple. I didn't notice it after major event last Thurs that precipitated all this. My sister says it would take a few days for a bruise like that to really show up. We took a photo of it.
I asked Malcolm where it came from, like I couldn't tell. He says "I think teachers." I need an impartial person to interview him about what happened step by step -- he WILL be able to tell them, believe it or not --- and of course HIS therapist is away, although we will be very in touch with her by email and phone.
I am talking with a lawyer tomorrow.
And Malcolm is staying home from school. I can't send him in, I gotta protect my little boy, plus my stomach would be in knots all day long with panic.
Sara
ilovemalcolm

Sara,
I'm so sorry. Did they say that they restrained him? Poor Malcolm. Hugs for you both.
Samantha
Doesn't look like you are getting alot of sleep with this stuff going on either. My time stamp on this has you up around 4am your time. You poor thing.
Ya know first I wanted to think the best of people. Maybe it was an honest mistake. maybe he bruises easy.
However, when thinking about it I realized that I have seen many many restraints and have had to do many myself with Mike and others about Malcolm's size. I don't think I have ever seen a bruise like that from a restraint and I know how physical they can get and have been in some pretty hairy ones. Mike has never had a bruise on him like that from teachers. At worst he had some rug burns on his leg once because of the way he was kicking (I was there and saw and would have to say it was self inflicted) and a teacher got him with a finger nailon the wrist but in both cases the teachers felt horrible and told me right away and they were total accidents.
Point being to leave a bruise like that, well you would definitely have to be using more effort than is neccessary.
Let us know what the lawyer says. I hope Malcolm had a good day today home with mom.
Renee
Dear Renee,
Exactly, bruising from restraint. Highly questionable whether the man they have had doing the restraining of Malcolm ever had any training, he is a secretary for school...
Actually, Malcolm had a day home with Dad, as Mom had to work and Daddy works at home during week. They didn't do much, listened to rap music, played some board games, ordered Dominican chicken, rice and beans -- gotta love NYC for the takeout --- but then I had to go to meeting with a clinical psych who freelances at Day Treatment Centers around NYC for some advice, friend of a friend and very well known in NYC Special Ed, lovely woman.
She thinks Day Treatment is way wrong for Malcolm, not a good plan. She says we need to look into them for good faith, but need to apply pressure to get a better placement and she will help us make it happen, gave us a list of her recommendations. She says we have such a strong case, and she thinks we should apply lots of pressure in all directions to make everyone hop, hop, hop, including BOE and school... You are right, Paula, they legally CAN'T kick him out until we have another placement, not that I WANT him to go back, but they will want to work with us, write report well, etc. so we don't SUE them...
I am keeping Malcolm home another day, calling and requesting an email copy of incident report to take with us to pediatrician tomorrow to check out the bruise...
We have so many schools to call, letters to write, I will not be sleeping for several more weeks, until we leave for Vineyard, and even then I may be cel phoning BOE etc. YAWN. But tonight, I am going to bed!
stay tuned for latest development on the breaking story,
Sara
ilovemalcolm
Oh Sara.....how truly awful. Son has had to be restrained on a number of occassions......bruises never resulted.......something is not right. I wish I could say or do more......(((HUGS))) Good luck with all of this.
Christie