http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2003/07/25in/met-2-autism0725-2905.html

Mother says autistic son was was tied to chair in school

GREENSBURG, Ind. — A special-education instructor at North Decatur Elementary School tied an autistic child to a chair to control his behavior earlier this year, the boy's mother says.

Stephanie Richards, the mother of 9-year-old Ryan Richards, said the teacher tied her son's wrists, elbows and ankles to a chair with weighted restraints, resulting in severe bruising.

"No behavior on Ryan's part should have led to him being tied down," she said. "He also shouldn't have received a punishment that resulted in bruising."

Richards said she withdrew her son from the school in Greensburg, about 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis, in April after he came home with bruises.

She said yesterday that she gave permission for the school to use a seat-belt-like Velcro strap to secure her son for a minute or two.

But the restraints the school used were placed on his ankles and wrists as well, she said.

Rob Smith, the school's principal, told sheriff's deputies he had reviewed the accusations and found nothing wrong, according to a police report. Smith told police that the boy sometimes became violent and had been known to injure himself.

A school employee said Smith was out of the office yesterday and not available for comment.

Tracy Gearhart, a former teaching assistant in the class that included Ryan and three other children, said the boy was strapped down for 45 minutes to two hours at a time. She said that she had restrained the child after being ordered to do so.

Richards said she planned to file suit against the Decatur County school system to pay for home schooling her son, who is nonverbal. Home schooling can cost up to $50,000 a year, she said.

A telephone message seeking comment was left yesterday at the office of Robert Cupp, Decatur County schools superintendent.

Cupp told the Greensburg Daily News he had no comment on the case, citing the potential lawsuit.

Copyright 2003 The Courier-Journal.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/18/2003).
Send questions and comments to The Webmaster.