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by lostinohio from cleveland

Last Post 88 days, 16 hours Ago


Autistic Student Kicked Out of Class After Alleged 'Survivor'-Style Vote Last Edited: Thursday, 29 May 2008, 7:24 AM EDT Created: Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 11:13 PM EDT Credit: MyFox myFOXCleveland.com
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A South Florida teacher is under fire for allegedly allowing her students to vote, "Survivor"-style, as to whether or not to let an autistic student back in after he was sent to the principal's office.

According to Fox 29, five-year old Alex Barton suffered from a form of autism called Asberger's Syndrome. Oftentimes, Morningside Elementary School teachers reported Alex humming or eating his paper.

Last Wednesday, an outburst sent Alex to the principal's office. When he returned, his teacher, Wendy Portillo, took a class vote on whether he could come back to class. The count was 14-2 against Alex.

Portillo has since been taken out of the classroom and reassigned. The school district is conducting an investigation and will have a report in two weeks.

Janice Karst of the St. Lucie School District in Florida said that swift action was taken. "The child is at the center of our concern," she told Fox News. "Anytime there is a complaint launched about a teacher or child, we immediately react. In this case, the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and reassigned."

The school district says it has received more than 1,000 e-mails asking for Portillo's resignation.

i think this is horrible,and that this teacher should resign, i work with the mentally challange and disabled i have a lot of cousmers that are autistic and to even think of such a thing makes me ill,

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Member Comments Total Comments: 20
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girlscout read my blog view my photos
May 29, 2008 | 2:46 PM

As the aunt and godmother of a severely autistic child, I think this is DISGUSTING! This teacher was obviously not qualified to handle an autistic child.

ohio_gal read my blog
May 30, 2008 | 4:48 AM

I agree with you girlscout, i cant believe that she is even a teacher.I dont know much about autistic children, but my brother has mentally handicap children and my heart goes out to them. i wonder if these teachers have any training to teach these kids

mzldy0071 read my blog
May 30, 2008 | 11:37 AM

I think that teacher should resign that was very insesitive of her and I hope their board of education looks at our blogs and vote rather she keep her job. how would she feel, that was unprofessional and wrong autistic children have feeling too. it was not like she was unaware of his mental condition so some things should be expected. how dare her and I hope she gets what ever she have coming to her thank you for allowing me to comment on this topic

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 1:17 PM

This is ridiculous!! Was this a special school or is this child higher functioning to be at a mainstream school? The heck with her resigning she deserves to be fired! I don't know a lot about autism but yes these children do have feelings and what kind of message did that teacher send to the other kids in the class? Kids need to be taught tolerance for others regardless of any disability, and she just taught them that it is ok to disregard this child because he is different. That makes me sick!!!

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 11:52 AM

i can bet u that that teacher was not quialfied to handle mentally channgeled children, as girlscout and ohio gal said,ur heart just goes out to thease kids and adults, it takes alot of patience,care,and love,and this teacher did not have either,

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 11:54 AM

jigsgirl,u are right,that teacher did not send a postive message to the other kids in the class,it;s bad enough that when the mentally hanicapped go out in public,people stare,why dont they just come up to the staff or person with them,and ask what is wrong with them, this teacher shouold be fired

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 8:50 AM

She should not be allowed the dignity of resigning. She should be humiliated the same way she humiliated that child. I hope the parents drag her through the mud. The people affected by any mental or physical disability did not ask to be like that and should recieve all the love, care, patience and TOLERANCE that we all can give. Alot of them rise above their disability and try to be productive members of society, they work and interact with people and alot even live on their own. They deserve alot more respect than they are given. I have a lot of respect for them because they are trying, unlike the lazy ass people who are more than capable of working and have no physical or mental handicap but still choose to sit on their lazy asses and collect welfare.

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 10:52 AM

well said jigs,i argee with you totally

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 12:18 PM

Thank you lost, I feel very strongly about this topic just because I grew up around it and saw how much patience my mom had for her clients and they were amazing, talented people. Some of the things they did I could never imagine doing. They love and care the same way we do and sometimes even more. We all could learn from them.

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 3:04 PM

oh yes we could,i went to a concert with my work,i can;t remember his name but he was awsome,he played the guitar with his feet,cuz he was born with BLEEP arms,this guy was just amazing

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 10:34 AM

That is amazing but he learned an optional way to do what he really wanted instead of giving up, kudos to him, that's fantastic!

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 12:36 PM

yes,i wish i could remember his name, i hope the next time he is in town,they get tickets,anyone could go,ill ask his name,at work and if i can get it i'll let u know, he was at this church out in parma,it was just amazing,i wish i had my digital back then i would have viedo tape some of it,

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 2:30 PM

That would have been real nice! I envy people like that. I'm sure we all do this from time to time but I'll find myself sitting around and "feeling sorry" for myself and really I don't have a good reason to, not when there are people like that, that just don't give up and that just amazes me and it makes you realize that things that we take for granted other people are missing and still make the best of it.

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 9:25 PM

yep i argee with you,and when my day hasn't gone well or im just feeling down,i think of all my counsumers i work with,and how hard they have it at times,then i say to myself "hey what are u so down about? at least u can function on you own,you know what i mean

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 4, 2008 | 9:16 AM

Absolutly! There are so many others who have it worse than we do and yet we still complain about it. I just thank God that I have healthy kids cause I've seen how hard it is raise a special needs child and really don't know if I would be capable of going through what these parents do.

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 4, 2008 | 10:43 AM

jigs,yes u could your stronger then u think and if u had to you would do it with loved patience,and understanding,sure it would be rough at times,but that is why their are places such as respite,that is a place where parnets can leave thier child,for the day or overnite just to get a break, you would be horidfyied at some of the stories i hear

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 4, 2008 | 10:51 AM

I don't know. I just hope I never have to find out. Yea I've heard a few horror stories myself.

lostinohio read my blog view my photos
Jun 4, 2008 | 10:24 PM

we all hope that,but sometimes we are dealt a not such good hand and we deal with it it;s life,and our child,so how can we not?u knwo

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Jun 5, 2008 | 8:44 AM

Oh I completly understand. I just feel so blessed everyday.

jigsgirl read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 1:31 PM

hey lost...my email address is amelia544@hotmail.com feel free to shoot me an email at anytime. talk to you soon.

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lostinohio

I WORK WITH THE MENTALLY HANICAPPED AND DISABLE ADULTS(AND KIDS),IT'S HARD WORK AT TIMES,BUT VERY REWARDING. I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS,CHATTING ONLINE WITH FRIENDS I HAVE MADE,AND NOW THE WEATHER IS NICE SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS AND IN THE PARK,

Member Since: 11/5/2007