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Hi to all, My name is Pam
and I was a Special Education Teacher in Alberta, Canada and I also reside in St. Albert.
Eight years ago, I was assaulted by a violent, large, Special Education student, with superior strength, in my classroom during the school day.
The first statement I would like to make about this violent assault is that I am grateful that this injury did not happen to a student. If a student were put in a chokehold like I was grabbed when the student started the assault on me, that child would have had his or her neck broken. The students around us were smaller and did not have the super superior strength that the student who assaulted me had.
This is how the assault happened in my classroom: This student came up behind me very fast, grabbed me in a chokehold, and was strangulating me. I tried to scream, but I could not breathe.This student's grip was so strong around my neck, and this student was pulling my neck backwards over & over again in the chokehold. I was without air for some time, but I can't remember how long.
I was desperately trying to get away, or at least scream so an EA (Educational Assistant) in the room would see me and stop the assault. This EA was occupied with another student so did not see what was happening to me. Then, I pushed backwards into this student, trying to loosen the grip on my neck so I could scream, at least-or try to break the chokehold.
When I pushed backward into this student, my action made this student very angry. This student then slammed down on my spine (a compression injury, called a musculoskeletal injury). It felt like my spine exploded, and, while I was still in the chokehold, this student threw me to the classroom floor. The right side of my head hit the floor, as well as my jaw, which was pushed out, and my right shoulder.
This student had too many special needs to understand the ramifications of what this student did to me, so this is why I did not bring any legal action against the student's parents or my school board. (Thus, I have received no funds from any legal action.)
As well, though I was violently assaulted and sustained an extensive, painful injury, I did not realize it was permanent injury until two and a half years after I was assaulted. Part of the problem was that I have also suffered a cognitive injury from this assault.
Thus, as a result from this assault, I have a permanent, debilitating spinal, neck, and shoulder injury. In addition, I sustained a permanent cognitive injury and other significant deficits. I am unable to work because of physical disability, severe pain, profound fatigue, low ambulation, and other problems, considered mental disability, as I am also having memory, attention, concentration, reading ability, and a host of other struggles, including comprehension of what is said to me. I am also suffering from multiple PTSD symptoms from the assault and the aftermath.
Musculoskeletal injuries are like having a cement block fall on your shoulders, except that my injury is from blunt force trauma assault.
Because of this debilitating injury, I am in constant pain. I am unable to do most daily living tasks.
In April of 2015, I was successful with my CPP Disability Application.
CPP Disability stated there is more than enough medical evidence to support my total disability from employment, so CPP Disability status was granted to me, backdated to March of 2012. I received no lump sum money from CPP Disability at any time.
CPP Disability criteria is high. Disability must be severe and permanent. In addition to holding Special Education/Resource positions throughout my career, I also tutored students out of my home from 1991-2010. CPP Disability Benefits are not reflective of my teaching salary.
We are making this Gofundme appeal to pay for ongoing medical and equipment costs. It costs far more for me to live now that I am disabled as I need a vast amount of equipment and other modified and additional items and we have paid for nearly all of it, with the exception of these large pieces of equipment—my medical-grade wheelchair, my 23" walker, and my Saskapole so I can get out of bed and I use it to get dressed. The Alberta Aids to Daily Living paid 75% of the cost of those items. We had to pay the other 25% of the cost of these items-so, $750. We received no reimbursement from any source for this amount.
As well, we have paid for other equipment, incontinence supplies, medications and medical devices not covered.
The total physiotherapy costs were over $25,000. My husband's plan paid over $18,000 in physiotherapy costs. My teachers plan covered approximately $2100 of physiotherapy costs. That left about $5000 for us to pay for out of pocket.
We have calculated the cost to us after I was injured in my own classroom, during instructional time, to be over $600,000.
My former school board did not even call to say they were sorry this happened to me, let alone offer to pay for any expenses-since we were short-staffed the day I was assaulted.
Physically, cognitively, my quality of life, financially, and so forth, neither myself nor my family will ever recover from this assault in my classroom-and this is just 8 years into my injury.
Right now, I would love to be teaching, doing things with my family, seeing friends-If I do anything, like sitting up for a period of time, recovery time is lengthy. Because of my inability to sit up due to physical and pain, I am in bed about 75% of the time. I have special wedges in my bed to help with support, a medical bedrail, and Saskapole. We received a grant from the Government of Alberta for a stairlift.
With regard to my former employer, as I noted above, no Administrator--Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, etc.,from my School Board, nor anyone from Alberta Labour, ever made any contact with me to find out the details from me of what happened when this student assaulted me.
We were understaffed the day I was assaulted. There was an EA who was sick that day and the Board did not replace this EA with any substitute.
The lack of contact or action toward me by any Administrator or School Board Member speaks louder than anything further I could say.
It bothers me greatly to have to appeal to my friends and others to have to share my post and rely on donations to live.
In Alberta, most Teachers are not part of WCB. As I found out after my extensive physical and cognitive injury, only Home Economics Teachers and Industrial Arts Teachers are covered by WCB.
Other Teachers, like Special Education Teachers, are *not* covered by WCB.
WCB covers items, like household help, if a worker becomes disabled on the job site.
My plan does not pay for household help. Homecare will not do housekeeping tasks. Thus, we have to pay someone to do household tasks and this person assists me when I need help, too.
My husband cannot do everything as he has a demanding job, related to law enforcement. He is looking after a disabled wife and doing almost everything for our household—I cannot make meals and I am unable to do functional tasks.
Many Teachers and EAs work in Special Education and other types of classrooms where our safety is at risk because there are not enough supports are in place. Sometimes, this is due to cutbacks.
The OT in my physical rehabilitation program asked me if I was the Teacher in the Special Education classroom or the EA. I told her I was the Special Education Teacher. Her response, "Oh, we usually see the EAs in here." My thought was--You usually see EAs in a *Physical Rehabilitation Program????
Many doctors and nurses who cared for me, at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, stated that with violent students in schools, there should be some type of security personnel, like hospitals have—not Teachers and EAs doing this unsafe task when a student becomes violent.
We Teachers and EAs are not trained in take-down actions. There needs to be Canadian standards for Special Education student services and staff safety, or at the very least, Provincial standards for Special Education.
At the interview for this position, I did not know how violent some of these Special Education student were. I did ask at my interview if any students in the class needed restraining and I was told "students were low-functioning" and that I would have lots of help.
The only "Physical Demands" for the position asked of me was: "Could I push a student in a wheelchair?"
I was planning to teach to age 65 or, hopefully, longer because I love children and loved teaching so much. I did not expect my teaching career-my calling-to end so abruptly and violently.
At this time, there is no other avenue for me to submit any additional costs.
Another reason I want to speak out about what happened to me is so I can warn others about dangers in Special Education.
Last year, I heard about another teacher who was strangulated to unconsciousness, in the same way I was assaulted, from behind in a chokehold.
I can say from experience I had never before heard of a teacher being grabbed so violently and put into a chokehold before I was assaulted. Now, there are at least two of us.
We turned to GoFundMe at the suggestion of a friend. I am seeking funds for equipment/medical supplies I need, drug costs not covered by my husband's plan or mine, and disability expenses because I can no longer work, at all. I would be happy with any amount of money raised by this appeal.
Though I have a debilitating and permanent spinal, neck, shoulder, and cognitive injury from this assault in my classroom, someday, with help, I hope to be able to draw attention, in some way, to the need for student, teacher and support staff safety precautions and standards.
I consider myself lucky to be alive. Most people do not survive a violent chokehold like the one I survived-my airway was cut off for an indeterminate amount of time.
My Rehabilitation Specialist Physician said had I tried to get away from this student when I was grabbed a put into this violent chokehold by going forward, instead of pushing backwards into this student to try to get some air, my neck would have been broken.
I loved teaching so much--all I ever wanted to be was a teacher. Being violently assaulted in my own classroom is not the way I thought my teaching career would end.
In my spare time, I tutored students out of my home. There are so many students who needed academic support and I loved being a teacher. For me, teaching was a calling, not a job.
Thank you for your consideration of this campaign. We appreciate all of the support-emotional and otherwise-from all. Thank you, again. The small photo you see of me in the white dress, with the pink background, is one of my wedding day photos, taken 27 years ago. Thank you, again, for your consideration in helping us.
We will keep you updated with any news.
Thank you, again.
Pam
and I was a Special Education Teacher in Alberta, Canada and I also reside in St. Albert.
Eight years ago, I was assaulted by a violent, large, Special Education student, with superior strength, in my classroom during the school day.
The first statement I would like to make about this violent assault is that I am grateful that this injury did not happen to a student. If a student were put in a chokehold like I was grabbed when the student started the assault on me, that child would have had his or her neck broken. The students around us were smaller and did not have the super superior strength that the student who assaulted me had.
This is how the assault happened in my classroom: This student came up behind me very fast, grabbed me in a chokehold, and was strangulating me. I tried to scream, but I could not breathe.This student's grip was so strong around my neck, and this student was pulling my neck backwards over & over again in the chokehold. I was without air for some time, but I can't remember how long.
I was desperately trying to get away, or at least scream so an EA (Educational Assistant) in the room would see me and stop the assault. This EA was occupied with another student so did not see what was happening to me. Then, I pushed backwards into this student, trying to loosen the grip on my neck so I could scream, at least-or try to break the chokehold.
When I pushed backward into this student, my action made this student very angry. This student then slammed down on my spine (a compression injury, called a musculoskeletal injury). It felt like my spine exploded, and, while I was still in the chokehold, this student threw me to the classroom floor. The right side of my head hit the floor, as well as my jaw, which was pushed out, and my right shoulder.
This student had too many special needs to understand the ramifications of what this student did to me, so this is why I did not bring any legal action against the student's parents or my school board. (Thus, I have received no funds from any legal action.)
As well, though I was violently assaulted and sustained an extensive, painful injury, I did not realize it was permanent injury until two and a half years after I was assaulted. Part of the problem was that I have also suffered a cognitive injury from this assault.
Thus, as a result from this assault, I have a permanent, debilitating spinal, neck, and shoulder injury. In addition, I sustained a permanent cognitive injury and other significant deficits. I am unable to work because of physical disability, severe pain, profound fatigue, low ambulation, and other problems, considered mental disability, as I am also having memory, attention, concentration, reading ability, and a host of other struggles, including comprehension of what is said to me. I am also suffering from multiple PTSD symptoms from the assault and the aftermath.
Musculoskeletal injuries are like having a cement block fall on your shoulders, except that my injury is from blunt force trauma assault.
Because of this debilitating injury, I am in constant pain. I am unable to do most daily living tasks.
In April of 2015, I was successful with my CPP Disability Application.
CPP Disability stated there is more than enough medical evidence to support my total disability from employment, so CPP Disability status was granted to me, backdated to March of 2012. I received no lump sum money from CPP Disability at any time.
CPP Disability criteria is high. Disability must be severe and permanent. In addition to holding Special Education/Resource positions throughout my career, I also tutored students out of my home from 1991-2010. CPP Disability Benefits are not reflective of my teaching salary.
We are making this Gofundme appeal to pay for ongoing medical and equipment costs. It costs far more for me to live now that I am disabled as I need a vast amount of equipment and other modified and additional items and we have paid for nearly all of it, with the exception of these large pieces of equipment—my medical-grade wheelchair, my 23" walker, and my Saskapole so I can get out of bed and I use it to get dressed. The Alberta Aids to Daily Living paid 75% of the cost of those items. We had to pay the other 25% of the cost of these items-so, $750. We received no reimbursement from any source for this amount.
As well, we have paid for other equipment, incontinence supplies, medications and medical devices not covered.
The total physiotherapy costs were over $25,000. My husband's plan paid over $18,000 in physiotherapy costs. My teachers plan covered approximately $2100 of physiotherapy costs. That left about $5000 for us to pay for out of pocket.
We have calculated the cost to us after I was injured in my own classroom, during instructional time, to be over $600,000.
My former school board did not even call to say they were sorry this happened to me, let alone offer to pay for any expenses-since we were short-staffed the day I was assaulted.
Physically, cognitively, my quality of life, financially, and so forth, neither myself nor my family will ever recover from this assault in my classroom-and this is just 8 years into my injury.
Right now, I would love to be teaching, doing things with my family, seeing friends-If I do anything, like sitting up for a period of time, recovery time is lengthy. Because of my inability to sit up due to physical and pain, I am in bed about 75% of the time. I have special wedges in my bed to help with support, a medical bedrail, and Saskapole. We received a grant from the Government of Alberta for a stairlift.
With regard to my former employer, as I noted above, no Administrator--Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, etc.,from my School Board, nor anyone from Alberta Labour, ever made any contact with me to find out the details from me of what happened when this student assaulted me.
We were understaffed the day I was assaulted. There was an EA who was sick that day and the Board did not replace this EA with any substitute.
The lack of contact or action toward me by any Administrator or School Board Member speaks louder than anything further I could say.
It bothers me greatly to have to appeal to my friends and others to have to share my post and rely on donations to live.
In Alberta, most Teachers are not part of WCB. As I found out after my extensive physical and cognitive injury, only Home Economics Teachers and Industrial Arts Teachers are covered by WCB.
Other Teachers, like Special Education Teachers, are *not* covered by WCB.
WCB covers items, like household help, if a worker becomes disabled on the job site.
My plan does not pay for household help. Homecare will not do housekeeping tasks. Thus, we have to pay someone to do household tasks and this person assists me when I need help, too.
My husband cannot do everything as he has a demanding job, related to law enforcement. He is looking after a disabled wife and doing almost everything for our household—I cannot make meals and I am unable to do functional tasks.
Many Teachers and EAs work in Special Education and other types of classrooms where our safety is at risk because there are not enough supports are in place. Sometimes, this is due to cutbacks.
The OT in my physical rehabilitation program asked me if I was the Teacher in the Special Education classroom or the EA. I told her I was the Special Education Teacher. Her response, "Oh, we usually see the EAs in here." My thought was--You usually see EAs in a *Physical Rehabilitation Program????
Many doctors and nurses who cared for me, at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, stated that with violent students in schools, there should be some type of security personnel, like hospitals have—not Teachers and EAs doing this unsafe task when a student becomes violent.
We Teachers and EAs are not trained in take-down actions. There needs to be Canadian standards for Special Education student services and staff safety, or at the very least, Provincial standards for Special Education.
At the interview for this position, I did not know how violent some of these Special Education student were. I did ask at my interview if any students in the class needed restraining and I was told "students were low-functioning" and that I would have lots of help.
The only "Physical Demands" for the position asked of me was: "Could I push a student in a wheelchair?"
I was planning to teach to age 65 or, hopefully, longer because I love children and loved teaching so much. I did not expect my teaching career-my calling-to end so abruptly and violently.
At this time, there is no other avenue for me to submit any additional costs.
Another reason I want to speak out about what happened to me is so I can warn others about dangers in Special Education.
Last year, I heard about another teacher who was strangulated to unconsciousness, in the same way I was assaulted, from behind in a chokehold.
I can say from experience I had never before heard of a teacher being grabbed so violently and put into a chokehold before I was assaulted. Now, there are at least two of us.
We turned to GoFundMe at the suggestion of a friend. I am seeking funds for equipment/medical supplies I need, drug costs not covered by my husband's plan or mine, and disability expenses because I can no longer work, at all. I would be happy with any amount of money raised by this appeal.
Though I have a debilitating and permanent spinal, neck, shoulder, and cognitive injury from this assault in my classroom, someday, with help, I hope to be able to draw attention, in some way, to the need for student, teacher and support staff safety precautions and standards.
I consider myself lucky to be alive. Most people do not survive a violent chokehold like the one I survived-my airway was cut off for an indeterminate amount of time.
My Rehabilitation Specialist Physician said had I tried to get away from this student when I was grabbed a put into this violent chokehold by going forward, instead of pushing backwards into this student to try to get some air, my neck would have been broken.
I loved teaching so much--all I ever wanted to be was a teacher. Being violently assaulted in my own classroom is not the way I thought my teaching career would end.
In my spare time, I tutored students out of my home. There are so many students who needed academic support and I loved being a teacher. For me, teaching was a calling, not a job.
Thank you for your consideration of this campaign. We appreciate all of the support-emotional and otherwise-from all. Thank you, again. The small photo you see of me in the white dress, with the pink background, is one of my wedding day photos, taken 27 years ago. Thank you, again, for your consideration in helping us.
We will keep you updated with any news.
Thank you, again.
Pam