ACtually an IEP helped keep my child with mental disablities from being treated as a lump.
Many mildly/moderately delayed children are capable of learning much more then how to wash tables in the cafeteria after their peers get done with lunch. Many children with Autism/Aspergars can learn to deal with the sensory issues if the program is a good one. A good behavioral assessment would have helped wonders with this child, but doing what this teacher is said to have done is way over the top for ANY child.
YMMV of course.
My niece has Asperger’s. Growing up was tough, and her parents had to work very hard to provide her with what she needed. Fortunately, she was diagnosed even before Kindergarten, but school was still difficult and troubled.
But she graduated from high school and did moderately well. She rebelled some in her late high school years, and shortly after graduating, but after finding out what it takes to live decently, she buckled down, asked her parents for some assistance, went back to school, and started to work full-time.
She's working professionally now as a graphics designer, still continuing her education, and doing wonderfully. She is, of course, still sort of quirky and idiosyncratic, but working hard and succeeding in a highly-competitive field.
It was a trial to raise her from the time she was very young. Every success along the way came with difficulty and at great price. But I know her parents, and many of her teachers along the way, think it was worth every bit of struggle, as she's turned out to be a lovely young woman, hardworking, intelligent, resourceful, and decent.
I'm glad she never ran into a “teacher” like this.
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