FCPS- weapons detection causing wait and anxiety-

[Anonymous]

Is anyone's child who already has school anxiety having more trouble with the waits to get in for school. Right now we are just going in late. I think we may waiver out of advisory, and ask for accommodation for being tardy on the other day.

On top of having anxiety about school, now lining up for metal detectors and thinking about weapons every day is just another issue.

Had no idea we were doing this for this school year or would have tried to do something in advance.

[Anonymous]

Distress tolerance. Don’t do anything yet.

[Anonymous]

Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

Do you have a child with diagnosed anxiety? Like I can't stand TSA, now we have our kids wait outside for 20/30 min each morning to get in school. Add a diagnosis and a kid who can barely make it into school to the equation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

I am guessing that the topic popped up in the recent topic thread and the poster didn't see it was in the Special Needs forum.

Can you call an IEP meeting to discuss solutions?

[Anonymous]

Take him early or late. This is an easy fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

I am guessing that the topic popped up in the recent topic thread and the poster didn't see it was in the Special Needs forum.

Can you call an IEP meeting to discuss solutions?

Nope, I have an anxious kid and GAD myself. You don’t accomodate anxiety - this is basic clinical practice. Maybe a ramp-up plan. But he needs to tolerate standing in line.

[Anonymous]

I agree on asking to meet with the team. In the interim maybe the case manager and/or counselor has ideas. Going in late is one idea if you can accommodate that. But that kind of sounds unsustainable unless you already drove your child every day.

[Anonymous]

We have friends whose son goes in on the early end everyday. Allows him to get through quickly and also time to get everything in his locker, organize himself, and settle in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

That's nice.
FCPS HS do not allow students to "get to school early". They stand in a crowd with thousands of other kids and the door is unlocked at X time every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why accommodate this?

My kid has been going to a school with metal detectors for 2 years. He figured out he wanted to get to school early to avoid the lines.

That's nice.
FCPS HS do not allow students to "get to school early". They stand in a crowd with thousands of other kids and the door is unlocked at X time every day.

Ok. Well, he can learn to handle it.

[Anonymous]

You are not doing your child any favors by trying to "accommodate" everything in their lives that causes them discomfort or challenge. Resilience should be a goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not doing your child any favors by trying to "accommodate" everything in their lives that causes them discomfort or challenge. Resilience should be a goal.

+1. There is no way to get around the weapons check line so he has to get used to it. I guess you could fight for an accommodation that he be allowed to come late every day - but to what end? If you have to do this please consult with a therapist trained in anxiety to come up with a plan to get him to tolerate standing in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are not doing your child any favors by trying to "accommodate" everything in their lives that causes them discomfort or challenge. Resilience should be a goal.

+1. There is no way to get around the weapons check line so he has to get used to it. I guess you could fight for an accommodation that he be allowed to come late every day - but to what end? If you have to do this please consult with a therapist trained in anxiety to come up with a plan to get him to tolerate standing in line.

I agree that coming in late is not a long-term solution. I also disagree that you should just throw them in and make them “deal.” Talk to your team about scaffolding though and how to build up distress tolerance if possible. I would think you aren’t the first to encounter this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are not doing your child any favors by trying to "accommodate" everything in their lives that causes them discomfort or challenge. Resilience should be a goal.

+1. There is no way to get around the weapons check line so he has to get used to it. I guess you could fight for an accommodation that he be allowed to come late every day - but to what end? If you have to do this please consult with a therapist trained in anxiety to come up with a plan to get him to tolerate standing in line.

I agree that coming in late is not a long-term solution. I also disagree that you should just throw them in and make them “deal.” Talk to your team about scaffolding though and how to build up distress tolerance if possible. I would think you aren’t the first to encounter this

It sounds like he managed the first few days so there’s no reason to go backwards.