Three emails are better than two, no?
First, the email sent to both of Pearlsky’s teachers on Saturday …
Pearlsky’s wheelchair came home on Friday with two problems. Her cup holder was broken and in her backpack and the control to recline the back of the chair is likewise broken.
Can you explain how these two things happened?
It is claimed that the aide put her tea in the cup holder and broke it, no one bothered to tell me. As for the recline control, “we don’t use it.”
Then on Sunday I got an email from the guy that ran the summer program last year. I actually liked him, if you remember, everyone failed him and it made for a horrendous summer for Pearlsky. He was saying that he was glad that Pearlsky was in the program this summer. My response, cc’d to everyone in the administration, up to and including the superintendent …
Pearlsky’s mom and I are excited about Pearlsky being in the summer program. I want to make a couple of quick points exceedingly clear, and I have cc’d those involved with the problems from last year. You had great ideas and intentions last year, and this year, with MS’s oversight, I am sure your ideas and intentions will come to fruition. You have our full support.
Pearlsky has our permission to participate in EVERY outing, event, trip, activity, class, etc. that is offered to the class. We want, and expect, Pearlsky to be allowed to participate and to be included in all events. Most importantly, since there were “misunderstandings” last year, we request that you DO NOT accept anyone’s word that we do not want Pearlsky to participate. Unless you get it in writing from me or her mom, Pearlsky is to participate fully, every time. Any time that someone raises an issue that would not allow Pearlsky full and equal participation, any time that her rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 173 (FAPE, etc.) or her IEP are questioned or violated, we want to know immediately so that they can be rectified as necessary. And, as you learned last year, Pearlsky gets PT, OT, SLP, and vision therapies, and she needs to be fed by someone who knows how to feed her. And there are NEVER any imaginary “toileting issues,” never were, never have been, never will be.
I know how this sounds, but hopefully none if these issues will be revisited. Take her to the pond, other waterfronts, downtown, museums, restaurants, swimming pools, parks, anywhere … and have a great summer.
Again, you have our full support.
Then Pearlsky comes home today and I am forced to send this email. I sent it to the wonderful special ed coordinator, just tired of dealing with the others.
Subject: Want to know why I hate the world?
I will give you a gazillion dollars if you get someone to tell you how this happened. We noticed it while taking off her coat when she got home. It hurts her when I touch it.
Uggh.
I’d guess that the lever for the recline probably got jammed against something or has had something heavy hung on it – why they never use it is a different question. Presumably P is hoisted for toiletting, it’s MUCH safer and easier to hoist someone into and out of a wheelchair that is somewhat tilted/reclined back.
Could that be from arm restraint again? If so, I’d be calling the police just about… now.
Ouch. Poor Pearlsky. Do you have Sudocreme over there? It’s the British go-to stuff for anything from thrush to small cuts, via nappy rash, sunburn and everything else of that ilk. Magic stuff.
To me the welt looks identical to the ones that had been left by the arm restraint so it’s hard not to jump to conclusion and get quickly outraged. I just can’t believe that they had the audacity to put the restraint on her again and send her home with a painful welt as if nothing had happened. Did they think you were kidding when you made a stink about it last time or were they hoping that you wouldn’t take her coat off for a week and not notice or they just don’t really give a flying flip?
I’m anxious to hear what the response was. If it even matters. After a while, don’t you just get tired of the same old bullshit cycle, over and over and over? Hell I do and I am only at this for a little over a year when it comes to dealing with people ‘helping’ Bennett.
And although you addresses this a few ago…yeah I was wondering also…why the F is it taking so damn long on this whole investigation thing? Do you have any friends at your local news stations?
There is a special place in hell for those bastards and by “those bastards” I mean the evil shitheads who hurt your daughter’s wrist, broke her wheelchair and pretended to know nothing about it and WTF was going on with placing a cup of tea in Pearlsky’s cup holder? Hot tea has no business being in the proximity of your child. Next thing they’ll be using her as a coat rack and draping their jackets on her head.
I am appalled and disgusted There is ass kicking to be done and I am sure you’re the guy for the job but man oh man, how you must tire of trying to make sure your daughter is treated like a human being.
You sir, are a model of restraint. I’d be hard pressed not to go down there and spread around some serious ass-kicking. I understand that you have to work with and be on good terms with these cretins, but do you have a lawyer? Maybe some legalese under a bloody impressive letterhead would make them sit up and pay attention if their atrophied sense of empathy won’t do it for them.
Please tell me they’re going to pay to fix her chair and that there is a reasonable explanation for her wrist…like a freak attack by wild birds or her miraculous discovery of a love of fencing.
Rachel – I fence and would like to say that while injuries of any kind are known to happen to athletes in any sport, a cut like that on the wrist would be extremely unlikely. One’s hand is either gloved or held away from one’s opponent. Bruises, yes. Cuts, no.
Back to your regularly-scheduled program.