HIt in the stomach today - any other teachers?

becky7683 · February 2014

I teach special education and got hit in the stomach for the second time this week by one of my kiddos with Autism. I called the dr. just to be on the safe side, and they said as long as baby is still moving, I'm not cramping, and there's no bleeding that I should be okay. BUT they did recommend having them write a note so that I'm not working with this specific child anymore. Has anyone else ever been in this position? I'm not sure how that works ... planning on talking to my principal tomorrow, but any advice would be appreciated!

CMDR513 · February 2014

This has happened to other teachers in my school. The students were removed from their classes and/or caseloads. Is there another Spec. Ed teacher that could "pick up" this child? Best of luck!!!

oscarwao · February 2014

I'm a regular classroom teacher now, but I worked PMD and ASD classes in the past. I don't know any specific statues, but I definitely think you should be given some kind of accommodation considering the circumstances. I'd see what your principal says and maybe contact your districts HR department.

DBonfante · February 2014

I am a special education teacher in your exact situation. I was bitten in the face by a student earlier in the year. Now my TAs make sure when he is upset that he is on the other side of the classroom. I know this has happened with other teachers in the past and the student was able to switch classes. Not sure if this is an option but I would definitely talk to your principal to find a way to educate your students and be safe.
Good luck and keep us updated

JKTTC1 · February 2014

Other than being told they hope my baby dies, I haven't been hit yet!! I did have one grab my arm but that's are far as it went. Otherwise I'd have them removed from my room and I don't plan on staying at work till my due date!

ujocdeelovely · February 2014

I'm a special education teacher and teach a kindergarten autistic class. I have been punched/hit in the stomach several times by the same student. My staff knows that I'm pregnant and has been helping me deal with the behaviors. It also helps that I have a para in the room. Do you have any other staff besides you in the room? I would suggest you speak with them and your principal to come up with a plan in which every time your student starts becoming aggressive your para handles it and if it's too much for them to get extra support.

skyrockets · February 2014

I wouldn't hesitate to put my healthy pregnancy ahead of a student in my class. I am lucky that my students are protective of me!

mileswithmyles · February 2014

I'm also a special education teacher. I was hit by a student once(I was not pregnant at the time) and my administration told me I had the right to have the child removed from my class for the duration of the school year. Check with your admin/union. Glad you are okay!

rainydayluck · February 2014

I work in sped and with DD I was kicked in the stomach and another time I was head butted. The doctor ended up putting me on work restrictions saying I couldn't participate in restraint holds (not as bad as it sounds) or actively blocking aggressive kids. This time my restrictions were put in place in the first tri. From my experience, your work restrictions have to be very specific. It can't say something vague like: can't be around aggressive kids or can't work with kid x or cannot be put in a situation where may be hit.

It is the nature of the work and your job can put you on leave (paid or unpaid, but probably unpaid) if you cannot perform the duties that are integral to the job or duties that cannot be reasonably modified. Mine can be since I'm just not put on any of the crisis teams and can ask for someone to step in when a student is escalating.

FlemDance · February 2014

Sp. Ed. teacher here as well. Do you have any paraprofessionals in the class that could work a bit more closely with that student? Or maybe ask your admin if there is a parapro elsewhere in the building who could step in as a one on one for the student?

becky7683 · February 2014

Thank you guys so much for your advice! It's also nice to know that there are others in the same situation (though not nice to know your'e also getting hit of course). I have fabulous paraprofessionals that I work with (TAs) that try to protect me all the time - they're amazing! My students are amazing too, and don't understand the risk.

@rainydayluck - thank you so much for the example! I think having specific information will be helpful. I can remove myself from the crisis team and as soon as the student starts escalating call for a different team member. I'm currently part of the "protective hold" crisis team and won't be a part of any of those for sure!

@JKTTC1 I have had one of the kids tell me they were going to hurt the baby multiple times! I definitely understand that.

Thank you all again!

rrrowe15 · February 2014

Please be careful. I am a gen ed teacher but I used to para. Whe. I was preg with my first they removed me from the behavioral room. The sped teacher I worked with was pushed down and went I to preterm labor with her son. He was born early and in the NICU. There has to be a reasonable accommodation to keep you safe.

gypsymystic · February 2014

This has happened to me several times, though I work in a private pre-school. I am on my way to becoming a teaching assistant, hopefully in a special needs class. The worst of it though is that the toddlers seem to be much more cautious then the Kinder and School age kids. We have one girl who is in 2nd grade and she wants to leap and jump in your arms when you enter the class, and sit on your lap as soon as you sit down. She's jumped into my lap before and seriously knocked the wind out of me.

manna1212 · February 2014

I am also a special education teacher. I have an asd student who can get pretty angry. I am fortunate to have a wonderful team who looks out for me. When this student is getting upset (it is clearly obvious), someone else from my team comes with me to help calm him down. I don't try to calm him down alone anymore.

softservecity · February 2014

Have your doc write the request. That way you're legally protected in case anything happens or your work place questions your request. One of our teachers (not pregnant) was repeatedly hit and kicked in her stomach by one of her SPED students to the point where she herniated and required major surgery. She had verbally asked for this student to be placed with someone else or have help per her doctors request but never got anything in writing. Our admin did what they could when they could to accommodate her but still kept placing her with him then the hernia happened... Though they be little they be fierce! Protect yourself and your baby!

daisy.ramirez · February 2014

I am so sorry that happened, it must have scared you a bit. I am a principal and got hit by a soccer ball during recess yard duty, I also had a teacher get hit by a student. Both incidents were documented with HR and we came up with plans so that I wouldn't be at risk of getting hit by balls during yard duty and the teacher was able to create a plan with one of our aids to help when the student would get upset.

So I recommend you do speak with HR and your principal because they can probably help you come up with a plan to try to avoid it happening again. HR also had us both see our doctor's just in case.

rainydayluck · February 2014

softservecity said:
Have your doc write the request. That way you're legally protected in case anything happens or your work place questions your request. One of our teachers (not pregnant) was repeatedly hit and kicked in her stomach by one of her SPED students to the point where she herniated and required major surgery. She had verbally asked for this student to be placed with someone else or have help per her doctors request but never got anything in writing. Our admin did what they could when they could to accommodate her but still kept placing her with him then the hernia happened... Though they be little they be fierce! Protect yourself and your baby!

Unless you have a medical need, a doctor can't do anything (as in the situation above). OP does have a medical need, so she should get a note. If I don't have a medical need, I just can't willy nilly go around saying which kids I don't want to work with, just cause I got hit.

What you do need to do to, is fill out a work injury form for ANY hit, fall, etc. even if you don't think it did anything to the baby or you or hurt much. Symptoms or ramifications from the injury can show up later and it is easier to get workman's comp if you have the right paperwork filled out in a timely manner.

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