Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t a child that disabled have an aid in the classroom? If so, wouldn’t the aid be a witness to abuse. We also need to be honest about the limits of mainstreaming. This child may never function at more than this leve and are the teachers truly trained to help? At what cost to the other kids in the class?

No, the classroom was a high-needs classroom where all the teachers/aids were participating in the abuse. It was not a mainstream classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Can you stop using the term SpED kiddo? It’s derogatory and I find it hard to believe your a parent of a child with special needs. Read some literature and please stop using that term. It’s exceptional or child with special needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Oh wow, this is my first time looking at this thread--I realize I'm acquainted with this family too. If all true, it sounds horrible.

Anonymous wrote:I know Abagail's parents. What happened to her was awful. I hope Bridges is held accountable for it.

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t a child that disabled have an aid in the classroom? If so, wouldn’t the aid be a witness to abuse. We also need to be honest about the limits of mainstreaming. This child may never function at more than this leve and are the teachers truly trained to help? At what cost to the other kids in the class?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

So you're accusing the parents of a SN kid of perjury? Wow. Glad to know you are the decider of truth.

Belatedly, simply recounting the facts, having been a parent with a child in that classroom. We spent days upon days communicating with each other outside of school and with teachers and administrators at school. Through a search of public records, anyone can see that the charges against the individuals were dismissed. It's now just against the school, which means it's just about money. The family had their kids at an upper northwest private pre-school before Bridges and put them in private elementary schools after. It wreaks of a family of means who believes a school should bear the life-long cost of a tragedy that happened when the child was born.

Just because the lawsuit now only names the school as a defendant doesn't mean it's all about money. If you've read the complaint (I have), you'll see that there are very serious allegations of abuse being made. The parents recently submitted testimony from a SPED expert testifying that the school violated the standard of care for the child. I'm not saying the alleged acts of abuse actually occurred, but that's what the discovery process is for figuring out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Can you stop using the term SpED kiddo? It’s derogatory and I find it hard to believe your a parent of a child with special needs. Read some literature and please stop using that term. It’s exceptional or child with special needs.

I think the SpEd is referring to the teachers, which is short for "Special Education" and is what they are called at DCPS! I don't see kiddo mentioned?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Can you stop using the term SpED kiddo? It’s derogatory and I find it hard to believe your a parent of a child with special needs. Read some literature and please stop using that term. It’s exceptional or child with special needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

Curious why you think this. Bridges has a self contained classroom for kids with disabilities and CMI doesn’t. By definition the kids in that room are not enjoying “inclusion.” It sounds from the article like that is the classroom Abigail was in. It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to think that abuse is more likely in a room with only young children with serious disabilities many of whom probably cannot report what is going on.

From what I recall the self-contained classroom is an option for families who want a higher level of care as opposed to full inclusion. There were Level 4 students in both environments, at the parent's discretion.

My kiddos absolutely loved Bridges, as did many of our friends. I'm really shocked and surprised to hear otherwise.

Can you stop using the term SpED kiddo? It’s derogatory and I find it hard to believe your a parent of a child with special needs. Read some literature and please stop using that term. It’s exceptional or child with special needs.

Ditto our positive experience. The only option for us that might be as good for our son is a $40,000 per year private school, which makes no sense given Bridges (and Creative Minds).

we had an absolutely horrendous experience at Bridges in PK3. Bridges denied my DS even a 504 plan, which was desperately needed. due to lack of special support, plus a revolving door of teachers, DS devolved quickly during the first couple of months at school and at one point became hysterical in the classroom. obviously he was removed from the classroom (which i understand), but nobody could/would tell me who took him out of the classroom, where they took him, and why they insisted that he change his clothes/give up all security blankets instead of finding out WHY he was acting like this/why he needed all security blankets and favorite tshirt/what was going on with him. i would not have even known that happened that day if i hadn't realized that he was wearing different clothes and asked DS, then his teacher what happened. we pulled him out soon thereafter. it has been 3+ years since that time and i am still angry with how he fell through the cracks and how the school did not properly account for his whereabouts. FWIW we are at another (non special ed) charter school, now in 1st grade, with a proper 504 plan in place, and DS is thriving, and i never have to worry about the school knowing/not knowing where either of my children (i have 2) are during the school day.

So sorry to read that. Our experience has been so different but we joined 3 years ago, I guess after you left. We started the last year at the old location. The new facility and abundant SpEd staff and resources are better than we could find elsewhere. Our son is a handful and we have found that the school is doing everything possible to support him.

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t a child that disabled have an aid in the classroom? If so, wouldn’t the aid be a witness to abuse. We also need to be honest about the limits of mainstreaming. This child may never function at more than this leve and are the teachers truly trained to help? At what cost to the other kids in the class?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent with two children, one of whom is a special needs kiddo. The suit is crazy. It's based upon unfounded allegations from two years ago. The school investigated it. CPS investigated it. Parents met with staff. Parents met among themselves. We need to get a grip on reality. Bridges has been at it for more than 10 years, serving special needs kiddos better than any other public or public charter school in the city. Only other one I'd consider for my kiddo is Creative Minds but Bridges' inclusion model is way more real world.

So you're accusing the parents of a SN kid of perjury? Wow. Glad to know you are the decider of truth.

Belatedly, simply recounting the facts, having been a parent with a child in that classroom. We spent days upon days communicating with each other outside of school and with teachers and administrators at school. Through a search of public records, anyone can see that the charges against the individuals were dismissed. It's now just against the school, which means it's just about money. The family had their kids at an upper northwest private pre-school before Bridges and put them in private elementary schools after. It wreaks of a family of means who believes a school should bear the life-long cost of a tragedy that happened when the child was born.