District investigates student handcuffing incident

Police handcuff the autistic student after responding to a call from his bus driver and aide, who report that they and two students were bitten after the boy became aggressive and escaped his seat harness. The boy’s mother says the situation should have been handled differently.

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October 1, 2012

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ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Howard County Public School System officials are investigating an incident involving an autistic student who was handcuffed by police on a bus after he allegedly bit other students and adults, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Police told the news source that the boy’s bus driver and aide called 911, and when officers responded, the driver and aide reported that they and two students had been bitten after the boy became aggressive and escaped his seat harness.

Rebecca Amani-Dove, a spokesperson for the school system, said that the driver and aide had received training for working with special-education students and correctly followed protocols for protecting passengers during the incident. However, the boy’s mother said the driver, aide and police officers should have treated her son differently, according to The Baltimore Sun.

To read the full story, click here.

Topics:Maryland Special Needs Transportation

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