By Meredith Shimer
Published: Jun. 3, 2024 at 6:17 PM CDT
MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) - One Hart County mother has taken things into her own hands after dealing with what she says is few school resources and her son with autism being bullied.
16-year-old Isaac Riggs is going to be a sophom*ore at Hart County High School. So far, his experience there and at previous schools has been less than ideal than what he and his mother had hoped.
“Munfordville Elementary told me they didn’t have the resources to keep Isaac there. Cub Run [Elementary] told me they don’t have the resources for them, but we dealt with it and tried to get through it the best way we could,” said Isaac’s mother, Rebecca Riggs. “In Hart County High School, I get told the same thing. That they don’t have the resources to put him in a smaller classroom setting or to get him an extra teacher.”
Now she’s frustrated with the high school, saying that they are not providing her son with resources either and that she doesn’t feel listened to.
She has had multiple Admissions and Release Committee, or ARC, meetings. According to special education advocate Brandi Lemay, these meetings between parents and school staff are made to design an IEP, or individual education program.
“Educate yourselves because whenever I went into this, I didn’t have anybody,” Riggs said. “I am his number one advocate. You are the number one advocate for your children. Do what is best for them. If somebody tries to tell you and manipulate and force you to move your child or force you to do something you don’t want to do in an IEP meeting, don’t do it.”
She said specifically to become knowledgeable about FERPA rights, HIPPA laws, civil rights, and procedural safeguards, which are parent rights.
Since Isaac has been enrolled at Hart County High School, his mother says he has also dealt with student bullies, describing in one instance that they threw their boots at Isaac from the top bleacher. In another, she said they deliberately threw a football into his back.
“You have a child with autism that has been completely bullied and got to the point where he was devastated, he didn’t want to go to school,” Riggs said.
When asked if Isaac thinks the bullying might lessen, he shook his head. He said he has gotten used to it but wishes it would change.
Hart County High School told WBKO they could not comment on a specific case but did release a statement about their special education services. Their statement follows:
“Hart County Schools is committed to providing a strong and supportive learning environment for all students, and especially for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
IEPs are developed collaboratively by each student’s Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) consisting of a team of educators, parents, and often the student themselves. The IEP is written to determine the specific instruction and related services needed for the student to thrive and succeed.
IEPs are data-driven and regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to address each student’s specific learning goals. Student progress is tracked to help the ARC make informed decisions about IEP goals and services. Transition planning occurs through the ARC when a student moves from middle school to the high school and then again while the student is attending high school to plan for their future by addressing their postsecondary goals.”
Director of Special Education for Hart County Schools Donna LeFevre also gave WBKO a statement that follows:
“In Hart County Schools, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.
IEPs are essential to our commitment to inclusive education. They allow us to tailor learning experiences to meet the unique needs of each student.”
After struggling with the school system for many years, Riggs decided to take another route.
“Get a child advocate. I can’t stress that enough,” she said. “You won’t feel alone and that is someone who can actually advocate for you and your child.”
Lemay, who is not specifically working with the Riggs family, said child advocates work to empower and teach.
“Advocates are there to help the situation, not make it worse. Our job is really to make the IEP team more efficient. We are there to help train parents in their rights and what those are and what services they should be getting,” she said. “When we think about kiddos with special needs or special education, we really have to individualize.”
She also says advocates help families understand and work through these situations.
“When you feel like you’re not being heard, I think that’s when parents start to feel like they’re being bullied. It’s ‘I’m not being listened to’ or ‘I can’t get my message across,’” Lemay said.
She described the emotional and defensive response as a parent going into momma bear mode. Lemay said this is another reason to have a child advocate by your side.
“You just need someone there to walk you and be alongside you in that journey,” Lemay said. “It doesn’t mean it’s an attack on somebody, it shouldn’t be. You’re there to collaborate as a team. Most school districts are not out to get parents. When things are going wrong, what I typically find is that there’s a lack of knowledge on one side or the other.”
Riggs said that she does not think Isaac would have made it through school without some of his teachers. She specifically wanted to call out Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Jessica, Mrs. Chelly, Mrs. Jill, Mrs. Martha, Mrs. Kissler, Mrs. Sexton, Mrs. Gibson, and Mrs. Ellis.
Hart County Schools has a page dedicated to their special education services on their website.
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