Aliah's Mother should request a 504 plan for Aliah to protect her rights as a student with a disability.
That will further label her and stigmatize her. The nurse is NOT someone who is qualified to diagnose, and if the child has a history of migraine, I'd sue the behind off a school system that will not recognize migraine as a disease ranking with asthma and other chronic illnesses. Or, as this family has, go to the media for some kind of exposure of this incompetent person.
I think that a 504 plan is a great idea for this family moving forward. It would be quite sad for someone to avoid getting support for their child through a 504 because they were scared it might stigmatize their child. I think what happened to her is much worse than a 504 plan. A 504 might help educate school personel in the future.
I agree, the school system should be sued.
In this case, you are most likely correct; the damage is done. Do remember, however, that this is Texas we're talking about, and there might BE a problem with further stigmatization. OTOH, it would give the child and her family leverage against this kind of treatment in future. And another thing: the more this is exposed, the less folks will be able to get away with this treatment.
When I was in school (back in the 70s), they accused me of malingering and not having "school spirit" when I begged to be excused from pep rallies, which were incredibly loud. Even a doctor's note wasn't enough. Sad to see that things have actually gotten WORSE. Poor kid.
The student could probably get an IEP because migraines can be classified as an "other" disability. We are in the midst of this fight with my daughter right now. Her school officials tried to kick her out of her high school and into a continuation school because she was "truant" - even though every single absence was excused with a doctor's note and she had been getting A's and B's due to her hard work. It is amazing how clueless and harsh school officials can be. You would think that people who work with kids would develop a sense of compassion!
I had the same problem back when I was in high school. Looking back at it now, I think I was probably having abdominal migraines. I got really nauseous, with stomach pain and headache. I missed a lot of days and was "talked to" a lot about it. The teachers seemed to all think I was doing it to cheat on tests and homework. Luckily the worst that happened was that I had to retake some tests. I was an A student and had been during my whole time at school, so I never knew why they thought I needed to cheat. I can just imagine how they would have treated me if I hadn't been a good student. This nurse definitely needs to be fired. Law enforcement has a procedure for determining whether you're under the influence of drugs (illegal or Rx), but basically they are just to determine if blood tests need to be done. Once the blood tests are done, they are what counts. Everybody can be wrong, but anyone who can't admit that they were wrong after it's proven by blood tests doesn't deserve to have that kind of authority.
I've often wondered if I could have even graduated high school if I had to do it today with the zero tolerance policy schools have. When I went in the early 90's, I had my meds in my purse. If I had to run to the nurse every time my head hurt or I needed anti-nausea meds, I would have never been in class!
This poor child. Someone should hold this school accountable. Make a big fat glowing example of their stupidity. I'm with the other poster willing to take a collection for attorney's fees. Pass the collection plate my way.
Julie
This story really hits home. My 12 year old daughter suffers from CDH and Migraine syndrome. The Middle school nurse was also a big obstacle. Always questioning the validity of her headaches accusing an A student of trying to get out of class. Asking questions as to what we feed our daughter, did she get enough sleep, was she drinking sodas... Basically, did we know how to parent?
My daughter felt very intimidated and ostrasized to the point that she wasn't getting up for school because if she had a migraine the staff made her very embarrased and isolated. If she went to lay down they limited her to 10 minutes or go back to class. If not better, I had to pick her up every day.
Part of the problem was the School nurse wasn't an actual nurse due to budget cuts. In our area of California, we have one nurse for every 5 schools and hired untrained Mom's to feel in the void.
Luckliy, for us our other 3 children had attended the same school and the counselor was very willing to help us. She helped us design a 504 plan and made sure the teachers followed it. Plus, called in the actual nurse and allowed me to tell her what I expected of the school...
Ultimately, I had to pull my daughter out even though she had a 4.0 GPA. She simply cannot handle the noice level of Middle school anymore. We are doing Online independent learning now. It's not her choice as she misses the socialization, but at least she can still atend school this way without being accused anymore.
My heart goes out to this girl in Taxas & her family. This should never happen to a child ever.
Praying for an end to Migraines.
I feel for that family - and think the nurse should be suspended until she had MORE training to realize that a kid coming into the nurses office should be treated with compassion and consider all other problems that could be causing the illness.
I've had a problem going to the ER with a migraine. Lights were difficult to handle, sounds were killing me, I was nauseous and dizzy. I had diffullty speaking. Instead of sending me in to see a doctor for these obvious neurlogical problems, I was put in a room with a psych nurse. I actually left, and made an appointment with my phychiatrist. He took one look at me, called the hospital and demanded a cat scan. Turned out, I had a stroke.
The case I'm making is that stupid people are in every position. Hold your ground, be a loudmouth if you have to, and NEVER GIVE UP. Your health is the most important thing you have.
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When did a nurses oppinion become better than a doctors? These nurses are also suposed to know the difference between a sickness and drug use. Ive lived in a place where there is tons of drug use and i know what drug you are most likely on and i have alot of medical training and knowledge but that does not mean i am qualified to tell you you are on drugs. The only thing that could possitivly id that you are under or have taken drugs is tests...hair urine saliva or blood...any of those would tell you. So why would a medically trained person who should know these tests are 99 percent accurate not listen to her own training and say well if the test are negative i was wrong. SUCK IT UP AND ADMIT IT!!! Also just to add the mother should sue the school the nurse and the spokeswoman...the nurse and any one else that was being ignorant should be fired immidiatly. Are these the people you want with your children? What if that was your daughter and she was on her way to harvard when this dumb nurse takes her whole life away? DONT STAND FOR THIS REMOVE ALL GUILTY PARTIES!!!
I agree. There are several people that should lose their jobs over this. It could have been any myriad of medical conditions that could mimic "intoxication" such as an aneurysm, low blood sugar, blocked artery to the brain or even a tumor.
My aunt was having frequent headaches and thought it was "just a migraine", since she'd had them pretty much all her life. Instead of going to the doctor, she just tried to "tough it out". Little did we know that she had been falling quite a bit and passing out. Unfortunately, it took her falling face first on her front porch when coming home from work one day and a trip to the emergency before she found out it was a brain tumor. My aunt lives alone and, fortunately, the neighbor saw her on the porch and was able to call 911.
There's no excuse for what this nurse and the school did. They are very lucky that it was "just a migraine" and not something that put the girl in imminent danger. At the very least the mother should have been called before the police!
What's really sad is that it takes bad publicity in the media before the school reversed their decision. "New information" my a$$.
I'm sure the new information was from their lawyer advising them that they would very likely be sued over this and lose! In truth, I hope the family does just that!