It is with sadness and disgust that I share this story with readers. Let me preface this by saying that this did not occur in a local school. I understand however, that some local schools are still using this technique. For the Cherry Hill readers, to the best of my knowledge Cherry Hill is not using weighted blankets to calm our children!
On April 17th Gabriel Poirier, a nine year old boy with Autism, began to make disturbing noises while in his classroom. His teacher told him to stop, but as many of us know, simply telling a child with autism to stop or to calm down is not very effective. In fact telling a child with autism that is stimming or uttering noises to stop, usually results in more of the same behavior. It is always better to discover the reason the child is engaging in the behavior and address it proactively.
After telling the child two times to stop making the noises, the teacher decided to roll the boy in a weighted blanket. A similar technique that involves placing a weighted blanket over a child to provide sensory therapy is somewhat common, but is used for therapeutic reasons not discipline. In this case the child was rolled in the blanket, which was wrong! His arms were placed at his sides and he was rolled in the blanket, left lying on his stomach where he remained for 20 minutes. When the teacher went to check on Gabriel, he was listless and blue in the face. The teacher immediately called 9-1-1, but the child was already in a coma. He died the next morning in the hospital.
Weighted blankets are custom-made blankets filled with a specific material that gives the blanket added weight. They are considered an effective tool for helping calm down high-energy children, especially autistic children who respond well to sensory therapy. Although the use of a weighted blanket is sometimes effective when in the right hands, such as a trained Occupational Therapist, these weighted blankets are not to discipline children that are experiencing behavioral difficulties.
A coroner's report released today revealed suffocation as the probable cause of Gabriel Poirier's death. The coroner's report concluded, "the child's death was violent and could have been avoided." The boy's parents described these findings as "a shock" because they were told he had passed away "naturally and calmly." According to Gabriel's father, Gilles Poirier, "He was a very gentle boy. Sometimes he was loud, but he was never aggressive or violent." The parents' lawyer, Jean-Pierre Menard, said vulnerable children like Gabriel need better protection. "We're asking to implement a legal framework to regulate how these children are handled," Menard said.
I ran the use of weighted blankets past several parents. One parent was aware that a weighted lap pad had been ordered for use in a specific program. I also heard of weighted vests being used in an OT setting. Another parent, from a neighboring school district, mentioned that a weighted blanket had been used by an OT for her child but to her knowledge, never for discipline.
I am not saying that I am against the use of weighted vests, lap pads, and in some cases even a weighted blanket. In fact, when used therapeutically, weighted blankets can be an effective tool for children that respond well to sensory therapy. It is important to remember that occupational therapists have developed a set of rules and protocols that should be followed when using a weighted blanket and they should not be in the hands of untrained staff. Weighted blankets are not meant to roll children up in, but rather to place over them and should only be used with direct supervision. They are not to be used in a manner that would restrain a child or prevent them from getting out from under the blanket.
Please ask your school district if they use a weighted blanket and ask for the specific reasons they would use it. Also ask about the training and credentials of the person(s) permitted to initiate it's use. Make sure that is not used as a disciplinary measure, but only in an OT setting for therapeutic use. If you are uncomfortable with the use of a weighted blanket, make sure it is clearly stated in your child's IEP.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Misuse of Weighted Blanket Results in Death of 9 Year Old
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
My son's school used a weighted blanket for him. They claimed it was not for discipline but for sensory. My problem is they assumed if he was not calm -- he needed it. When he would get aggitated they automatically assumed he needed the weighted blanket. I had to tell them to stop using it. I don't live in your district Kathi, but they are used in many schools and I would bet Cherry Hill does use them.
I don't like these blankets when there are other effective methods like vests and lap pads to provide the pressure the child is seeking.
Margaret
Margaret:If the blanket was being used to "calm" your child when he was "aggitated" it was not sensory therapy. They may have called it sensory, but they wanted him to conform and behave in a calm manner so they used the weighted blanket to acheive that. That does make it discipline because it was used to change his behavior. Not calm = use weighted blanket. Result: Behavior changed.
Glad you told your school to stop using it and I agree there are safer ways to provide the sensory input the child is seeking.
Kathi: You were obviously upset by this story enough to post it but still open minded to the use of weighted blankets. I'm confused by that. BTW I think CH uses them!
Yes, I was very upset by this story! A 9 year old little boy died and it could have been prevented if the staff had only been trained in the proper use of a weighted blanket. It reminds me of the other methods that are meant to be positive methods but get mis-used by untrained staff -- like a safe zone or quiet room that gets twisted into a padded punishment closet!
I am open minded to "positive" interventions. My own son used to climb under the cusions of our sofa to seek the "deep pressure" or weighted feeling he desired. This was not safe so we instead learned the deep pressure techniques that can be used and taught him how to ask for it.
I would never tell a parent what methods they should or should not use. If a weighted blanket helps and can be used safely and it is used for the right reasons -- I am OK with that. To have an a teacher use the weighted blanket because the child is not behaving in a calm manner is wrong, under any circumstances. It changes what was meant to be a positive therapuetic approach, into something negative and dangerous.
I realize CH does many stupid things to our kids, but I am not so sure they use weighted blankets for discipline. If I am incorrect, please let me know.
Could you write a blog about what happened to you in CH? I am out of the loop on some of the issues! I saw mentions of your troubles with your school district in prior blog comments. What happened? I saw someone comment in the last blog that they dismissed charge against you. Congrats! Could you run through the issues that led to this?
How can this keep happening to children with Autism, it seems we are hearing about abuse, restraint and death of Autistic Children at a horrible rate. WHY????
I believe there are several reasons that we hear about these horrible events more often. First, there are more children with autism. This has increased the incidence of many things; including children that are at risk of elopement, cases of abuse or even just accident rates. In addition to that, the training of staff has not happened as quickly as the spike in the prevalence of autism.
I also think the internet has helped us to be more informed of these situations and has given us the ability to share them with a wider audience.
I don't think people became more cruel or less tolerant, but I think people need more training. I would like to believe that most teachers entered into their profession to "help" children learn. I have not met a teacher yet that became a teacher to injure children. Yes, there are some that are not well suited for working with children with autism -- but it is up to school district leaders to provide more training and child study teams to place children with autism in the appropriate setting, where a highly qualified teacher that is trained in their specific disorder can work with them.
Kathi,
I agree with you in regard to the additional training needed for the teachers. Unfortunately, currently in Cherry Hill our administration only wants to cut the training and put the money in their own pockets.
It is so disturbing that the school district in this story tried to pass this childs death as a natural occurence "naturally and calmly". Do you know if the teachers or school district have been criminally prosecuted? I am a product of wonderful teachers in my own childhood, but I also believe that the adults involved in this case were extremely neglectful. Even if they did not know exactly how to use the blanket, there is something called common sense. A 40lb blanket wraped around a 9 year old boy. I dont think this is the outcome the teacher expected, but I still hope they will go to jail for this.
This is where science has failed children with autism spectrum disorders. If a child is NT and is anxious or overwhelmed, you will find them someone to talk to, take them for a walk, teach them breathing techniques, take them to Yoga, find activities to involve them in, and so on. You certainly would not think to wrap them in a 40 blanket and leave them alone to figure it out (in this case to die).
I have a son with high-functioning Autism and use a weighted blanket all the time. I have never wrapped him in it, however, I don't understand how that would work as opposed to laying it on top of him. And was the blanket really 40 lbs.??? That seems excessive to me. Isn't it supposed to be only 5% of body weight? A child should always be able to get out from under a blanket. My son LOVES his blanket and some nights can't get to sleep without it. I don't think it was the blanket that was the problem here, it was the teacher who didn't know what she was doing and trying to restrain this child. No child should be wrapped in anything for 20 minutes with no one checking on them! And where was the child put that no one saw him loosing his breath? Unreal.
Kathi, Where have you been? I check often but no new blogs. I miss it!!! What program is your son in now and how is it working out? Was he mainstreamed this year?
I like that you keep us up to date on other stuff like the weighted blanket but I liked it better when you were doing more local info.
Anything new with Cherry Hill SE --other than monitoring was a big joke!
As co-owner of a company that makes weighted blankets (redbarnblankets.com), I'd like to add a comment. The first thing we try to communicate to parents and others who want to purchase a weighted blanket is that it should NEVER be used for disciplinary purposes. A weighted blanket should also be able easy for the child to remove if they want to remove it.
There has never been an evidence based study to determine what weight is "safe" for a child, I suspect because it is going to vary by child and situation, but parents and school administrators need to be educated and also to employ common sense when using a weighted blanket or any other tool for that matter. One size does NOT fit all...a 20 lb. blanket might be perfect for an adult but lethal for an infant...
All that said, a weighted blanket can be a great comfort, not only for people on the autism spectrum, but also for people who do not have a sensory deficit disorder as well...please use common sense and check with your OT or physician for guidance on proper size and weight before making a purchase and NEVER use it inappropriately.
Red Barn Blankets
My grandson has Aspergers. My Daughter has had so much trouble in all the schools. One Principal even told her "Do not bring your child to school unless he has his medication". Now, without even any discussion with her they have started using "Lap pads, actually lap weights on his thighs". I really was not aware the school system could do that on their own. Second, I am not totally against it, I do believe they could misuse it. The school for instance just keeps it on him all day. So that he will stay nice and docile. As soon as she told me they (the school) I got right on the computer to investigate this new way of handling Aspergers. Even his Doctor never mentioned the use of "Lap pads" ???
I really like your blog. I really appreciate the good quality content you are posting here for free. I was looking to buy an childrens bag cover safety vest but was looking for all the characteristics. Thanks for sharing all the information with us.
Although not a teacher in the Cherry Hill school district, I am wondering where choice comes in? If a child feels comforted by a weighted vest/blanket/lap pad they should have the option of using it. Obviously you wouldn't wrap them in it but the children I work with are given options they can choose. They know what they want/need in any situation better than anyone. Verbal or non-verbal they are capable of expressing their needs people just need to learn to listen. This includes, not only teachers and professionals that work with them but parents and grandparents and anyone else who has contact outside of the school setting. So let's not lambast an entire profession for the mistakes of a complete idiot. That would be like me saying all parents who have kids with autism are self-righteous. It would be stupid and insulting - just saying...
I am a parent of 7, 2 with moderate autism. I am also an occupational therapist. I believe that parents need to know of any strategies and interventions being used with their child during the school day. It is their right to know. Then, having this knowledge, the parents should empower themselves by researching these strategies and and determining what are acceptable standards with respect to safety and dignity of the child. Then parents should make sure, in the IEP meeting, that these limits are written into the IEP. The school staff is obliged to follow the Individualized Educational Plan which is a legal and binding document. Failure to follow the parameters could result in legal action against the school, so the school then is on alert that all staff need to be trained in safe use of a strategy, in this case weighted blankets. May sound heavy, but in the end the outcome is that the vulnerable child is protected. Most staff want to learn and do what is in the best interest of the child, but in my experience, once in a while you get a bimbo who thinks they know your child better than you do. Parents claim your rights, get informed, get educated and then set the limits with the IEP. Love alone is worth the fight.
People should always be careful about using the weighted vest/blanket
Reviews Seekers
Very well done! Absolutely brilliant information of weighted blankets. I'm in love with this blog. They always provide such a great information. I would love to share you one site. they are Australian made Weighted Blankets company. It's name is calmingmoments.com.au
Post a Comment