Indiana mother sues school district because she says teacher's aide tied her son with autism to a chair

From The Indy Channel:

INDIANAPOLIS -- The mother of an 8-year-old boy with autism is suing Indianapolis Public Schools after she said her son was tied to a chair by a teacher's aide.

Jennifer Robbins said she went to William Penn Elementary School on Jan. 14 for a conference and found her son, Hudson (pictured), belted to a chair in the corner of his classroom, 6News' Joanna Massee reported.

"It was wrapped around and tied twice in a double knot," said Robbins, who described the mostly non-verbal boy as looking disheveled and as if he had been crying.

She said her son's teacher and two teacher's aides were in the classroom at the time, and that the school's principal, Rhonda Akers, apologized for the incident.

"I was crying profusely, and she said, 'As a mother, I understand your tears, but as the principal of School 49, I just want to let you know that I'm sorry that Hudson has slid under the radar," Robbins said.

IPS Special Education Director Robb Warriner said the aide who belted the boy to the chair made a very poor decision, and that the aide had been disciplined.

Warriner said IPS does authorize staff members to use restraints on students, in accordance with Indiana law. He said the district's policy is being reviewed.

Suzanne Aaron with About Special Kids, a resource center for parents of children with special needs, said increased supervision in the classroom can reduce the need to restrain a child who wanders.

"With budgets being cut and staffing being cut, it's tough to maintain the staffing required to keep an eye on all these kids," she said.

Robbins' attorney, Ron Frazier, filed a lawsuit against IPS in federal court on Wednesday.

"People need to be aware that these things happen in classrooms, and it needs to stop," he said.

The boy is no longer attending the school.