Bullies

Our world is full of bullies and I feel sorry for these individuals that feel so inadequate that they resort to bullying others that are not like them.  It makes me wonder what has happened to them that makes them want to prey on others.
I always worried that when my son got into school that he would be bullied by other children...never did I think that adults would be the bullies.
The first time my son was bullied, he was in grade K and it was a staff member, a Para.  My husband went to the school to pick him up and as usual peered through the window. He saw our son sitting on the floor with a couple of other kids and a Para sitting across from them, playing a game. The Para would offer each child a piece of wood puzzle and when it came to Braxton, he would inch back and refuse it, by shaking his head. At this time, he was completely non verbal. Finally, on about the 3rd time of his refusal, she put her hand behind his neck and pushed his head to the floor holding him for at least 1 minute. During this time, my hubby walked in and nobody even noticed him. After my son was released, daddy calmly told him to get his back pack and come with him.
When he got home he told me that they lied to us about not touching Braxton and told me what happened.
A few minutes later, the teacher called me to say she saw Paul and was wondering if everything was alright because he had an unhappy look on his face.
I told her he and I are both upset by this incident and it will be addressed.
I wrote a letter about the Para;s abuse on our child to : Principle, Special education Director, Teacher, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Civil Right Union and also made a report at CPS & The Police Department.
The end result at that time was a lot of meetings, head butting and at that time a whole lot of nothing.
However; I did not let them ever forget the day they abused my son and then a couple of years later, I was still having incidents with those para's. The school kept Braxton in a class with the younger kids and would not let him go to the class with kids his own age.  They had problems with Braxton pushing the kids *wanting to play) and I kept addressing the issues and told them he needed to be with his peers.  Problems with the Para's seemed to be on going. One of them made a comment to Braxton's therapist that "It is up to us to make them normal"....
Then in 4th grade, the district decided to put one of the self contained class rooms to a bi lingual school and of course it was the younger class.  I was bound determined that was not going to happen. I started having meeting with the Director and continuous things in school. The Director kept telling me he would get back to me and did not.  Summer was ending and the bus service called to confirm pickup to the new school.  And then the teacher from the new school called me.
I was so ticked by this time. I decided to file a Citizen's Complaint. I faxed the complaint at 6:00AM and at 9:00AM , the Director called me saying "I am so sorry you had to file a complaint. I should have gotten back to you earlier. We found a place (the class i wanted him in)  for Braxton "    I told him I wanted confirmation in writing and then I would with draw my complaint.
I am guessing a lot was going on as in my complaint I had written about the constant things with the Para's etc... He did send me confirmation, I with drew and guess what? That ended all the Para's also. I have no idea where they went then. I did hear the other day that the one who abused him was at the high school and i am determined that she will not work with my son...

We must educate others about Autism, even though many will still not get it. If you educate them, then perhaps something may happen later on and they will remember what you said...