Advocacy Center Success Stories: Edition #6

A student, who had been diagnosed with mental retardation, with a co-occurring mental illness, was placed on homebound studies after he made a threatening comment to a teacher, who called the police. As is procedure, the school convened a manifestation determination, a process used to determine if the student's behavior was a manifestation of his disability. It was determined that the behavior WAS connected with his disability. At that point, he should have received additional help with behavior issues; instead, the principal told the parent that the student could not return to the school campus. This happened in November, and a homebound teacher came out to teach the student three times in two months. The parents contacted the Advocacy Center in January. At first, the principal refused to schedule a meeting, again stating the student was no longer a part of his school. AC contacted the Director of Special Education. A meeting was held and the special education director ordered the school to allow the child back onto the campus, with the school providing more appropriate supports and services to help the student manage his behavior.