My son is a 5th grader. He has been diagnosed with ADD. He is on an IEP, but his IEP is solely based on helping him stay focused. He is not considered to hve a behavior problem. However, he does, like other children, talk too much and gets side tracked easily. We have just found out that the special education coordinator who oversees his IEP has ordered his teachers to put him in what she calls “The Box” when ever he does not stay focussed or talks. His teachers told her that they do not agree with this because it is humiliating and demeaning to a child. There are 30 other children in the class room. I am sickened over this. Is the normal for kids? What affect will this have on him? As I mentioned, the woman calls it “The Box”. It is a cardboard box that is high, so that he cannot see other kids and they cannot see him. It is placed around his desk. The DOE told me that schools can use something called a coral. How can this not have a negative impact on a child? There is nothing in my child’s IEP that states that this is a tactic to be used on my child. Could this be a violation of his IEP? This is child abuse to me.
Re: Humiliating punishment used on my child
Call an IEP meeting immediately. Have the IEP amended to include a behavioral modification section to address your son’s excessive or inappropritate talking. Also there should be a section addressing when the child is not on task, i.e. lost focus, and these should be non-punitive interventions. You may also need a functional behavior assessment to evaluate your son’s particular needs concerning his behavior(s). Since the Spec. Ed. Coordinator is ad libbing behavioral mods. i.e. “The Box”, then it is your right and the IEP teams responsibility to evaluate and recommend appropriate interventions, and not the opinion of one person, especially if it is believed that this intervention humilitates the child.This is one of the sickening situations that arise out of an incomplete IEP. Since behavior isn’t addressed then the schools typically employ “normal” interventions on exceptional children. This is a violation of your childs rights, but not the IEP. However, as soon as the IEP addresses behavioral interventions and other forms of corrective measures are used that are not stipulated in your son’s IEP then it is in violation of his IEP. Move on this one quickly for the benefit of your childs well being.If you need more ammunition to support your cause that this is humiliating and punitive then I suggest you contact the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) OCR or OSEP through 1-800-USA-LEARN or 1-800-437-0833 for TTY services.Best of luck and let your instincts be your guide in situations like this. Sincerely, Carmen Prouty
Perhaps you mean a "carrell"?
EMAILNOTICES>noPASSWORD>aa.WKuN.MsKscA study carrell is one of those desks like they have in libraries— they have “walls” around 3 sides about 2-3 ft. high— provides a quiet place to study and eliminates some distractions. There should be a space like this in the corner of the room available for any kid who needs a less distracting place to work— but it’s all in how the teacher uses it. Obviously this coordinator has confused punitive punishment with modifications that are appropriate for a child with ADHD.
Re: Perhaps you mean a "carrell"?
: A study carrell is one of those desks like they have in libraries—
: they have “walls” around 3 sides about 2-3 ft. high—
: provides a quiet place to study and eliminates some distractions.
: There should be a space like this in the corner of the room
: available for any kid who needs a less distracting place to work—
: but it’s all in how the teacher uses it. Obviously this
: coordinator has confused punitive punishment with modifications
: that are appropriate for a child with ADHD.
Re: Humiliating punishment used on my child
Thank you to both of you for correcting me that it is called a “carrell”. As I mentioned, this was a complete blow to me when I found this out. I had never heard of it. I am sickened over this. I will also call the other numbers that you gave me. I also did file a complaint with the DOE, Program Quality Assurance. It was the Special Needs Coordinator who told them that she was using this carrell, which I know for a fact that she told the teachers that it was “The Box” and that it was to be used for my child when he lost focus, spoke when it was not his time, or misbehaved.Thank you
oops, only one "L" (NT)
EMAILNOTICES>noPASSWORD>aa.WKuN.MsKsc: A study carrell is one of those desks like they have in libraries—
: they have “walls” around 3 sides about 2-3 ft. high—
: provides a quiet place to study and eliminates some distractions.
: There should be a space like this in the corner of the room
: available for any kid who needs a less distracting place to work—
: but it’s all in how the teacher uses it. Obviously this
: coordinator has confused punitive punishment with modifications
: that are appropriate for a child with ADHD.
Re: Humiliating punishment used on my child
Hi Mom, You might want to do a search for “carrel” or “study carrel” on this website. Just find the “search” icon, and plug in the word. After reading about some of the reasons for which study carrels are used, you may not feel quite so upset. Every child and family is different, and “what works” for one may be a disaster for another. I hope you and the school are able to find the right answers for your son’s distractibility. Being constantly corrected in front of the rest of the class carries its own brand of humiliation. So does never knowing the right answer because you weren’t paying attention. Good luck getting this sorted out. JJ: My son is a 5th grader. He has been diagnosed with ADD. He is on an
: IEP, but his IEP is solely based on helping him stay focused. He
: is not considered to hve a behavior problem. However, he does,
: like other children, talk too much and gets side tracked easily.
: We have just found out that the special education coordinator who
: oversees his IEP has ordered his teachers to put him in what she
: calls “The Box” when ever he does not stay focussed or
: talks. His teachers told her that they do not agree with this
: because it is humiliating and demeaning to a child. There are 30
: other children in the class room. I am sickened over this. Is the
: normal for kids? What affect will this have on him? As I
: mentioned, the woman calls it “The Box”. It is a
: cardboard box that is high, so that he cannot see other kids and
: they cannot see him. It is placed around his desk. The DOE told me
: that schools can use something called a coral. How can this not
: have a negative impact on a child? There is nothing in my child’s
: IEP that states that this is a tactic to be used on my child.
: Could this be a violation of his IEP? This is child abuse to me.
Behavior Intervention Plan
PASSWORD>aaypjoGdHk2QkWhen a child in special ed has any behavior issue, the school is supposed to have a written Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) that is used to identify less desirable behaviors, what precedes them, and changing the action/reaction as well as having written specifics as to what is done regarding punishments or rewards. It is supposed to be a team effort with the home and school so that the same system is used in both places. For example, if the child is quiet for 15 minutes, they get a reward and when this is learned it can be increased to 1/2 hour, etc. Tell them in writing that you want a written BIP done so that one individual cannot unilaterally decide a punishment for your child.: My son is a 5th grader. He has been diagnosed with ADD. He is on an
: IEP, but his IEP is solely based on helping him stay focused. He
: is not considered to hve a behavior problem. However, he does,
: like other children, talk too much and gets side tracked easily.
: We have just found out that the special education coordinator who
: oversees his IEP has ordered his teachers to put him in what she
: calls “The Box” when ever he does not stay focussed or
: talks. His teachers told her that they do not agree with this
: because it is humiliating and demeaning to a child. There are 30
: other children in the class room. I am sickened over this. Is the
: normal for kids? What affect will this have on him? As I
: mentioned, the woman calls it “The Box”. It is a
: cardboard box that is high, so that he cannot see other kids and
: they cannot see him. It is placed around his desk. The DOE told me
: that schools can use something called a coral. How can this not
: have a negative impact on a child? There is nothing in my child’s
: IEP that states that this is a tactic to be used on my child.
: Could this be a violation of his IEP? This is child abuse to me.
Re: Behavior Intervention Plan
: When a child in special ed has any behavior issue, the school is
: supposed to have a written Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) that
: is used to identify less desirable behaviors, what precedes them,
: and changing the action/reaction as well as having written
: specifics as to what is done regarding punishments or rewards. It
: is supposed to be a team effort with the home and school so that
: the same system is used in both places. For example, if the child
: is quiet for 15 minutes, they get a reward and when this is
: learned it can be increased to 1/2 hour, etc. Tell them in writing
: that you want a written BIP done so that one individual cannot
: unilaterally decide a punishment for your child. (How sad but very true about schools. I have twin 9 year old boys one with ADHD and the other with ADD. I have looked everywhere for help and finally found on here through support groups. I have a behavior plan that I got the school to use as well and I use at home. This lady Gail Brewster has published this and a small fee of $40.00 for both, and I got it for I was tired of the way my kids were treated an no one helped. Please check out www.happy-kids.com/custnl.htm…Trust me this $40.00 was the best investment for me, though I wish I found it earlier, for a single mom it has been rough but am very thankful I found Gail. Good Luck
Re: Behavior Intervention Plan
PASSWORD>aaypjoGdHk2QkYou shouldn’t have had to look outside of the school and pay someone $40 to come up with a Behavior Intervention Plan. The plan is formed through a committee which should include the school psychologist and/or social worker. It is one of your child’s rights under IDEA. Good luck.
: This would bother me as well. A lot. I’d speak to someone about this. The teacher is telling you she doesn’t like it at all. Where is the building principal on this? What does the school psychologist say? And I’d check more into the “coral” that DOE says is ok. A “coral” is ok when a child is unfocused? A coral is ok when a child is talking out of turn?I would think that a “coral” is for when a child is completely out of control, not for when a child is talking out of turn.My son is a 5th grader. He has been diagnosed with ADD. He is on an
: IEP, but his IEP is solely based on helping him stay focused. He
: is not considered to hve a behavior problem. However, he does,
: like other children, talk too much and gets side tracked easily.
: We have just found out that the special education coordinator who
: oversees his IEP has ordered his teachers to put him in what she
: calls “The Box” when ever he does not stay focussed or
: talks. His teachers told her that they do not agree with this
: because it is humiliating and demeaning to a child. There are 30
: other children in the class room. I am sickened over this. Is the
: normal for kids? What affect will this have on him? As I
: mentioned, the woman calls it “The Box”. It is a
: cardboard box that is high, so that he cannot see other kids and
: they cannot see him. It is placed around his desk. The DOE told me
: that schools can use something called a coral. How can this not
: have a negative impact on a child? There is nothing in my child’s
: IEP that states that this is a tactic to be used on my child.
: Could this be a violation of his IEP? This is child abuse to me.