"As far as we know"

Last week, Ashley came home from summer school with significant bruises on both her knees. One knee was swollen and needed ice applied. These bruises joined the other scattered over her body. No note came home from summer school and no phone call was received explaining the bruises.

I sent a note in the next morning asking what had happened. The response came home in the afternoon - "Ashley is doing so well in school. She is a joy to have around, and we are so glad she is a part of the program this year. As far as we know, she didn't fall, so the bruises must come from playing on the playground equipment."

Ashley is supposed to have a full time aide by her side at all times. A seizure can happen at anytime, and her aide is supposed to be there to assist, not to mention the fact that Ashley needs a sign language interpreter at all times. Yet, "as far as they know", Ashley didn't fall???

Monday afternoon this week, Ashley came home from summer school with a bad abrasion on the inside of her right arm just above the crook of her elbow. It was about the size of an egg. No note accompanied her again. I washed it and applied antibiotic ointment. But this time, I did not send a note in the next morning.

The next day, near the end of the summer school day, I receive a phone call from Ashley's teacher telling me that Ashley's aide just reported that Ashley scraped her arm going down the slide on the playground. They took Ashley to the nurse who applied "neosporin and a bandage." I mentioned to the teacher that the injury had occured the day before and her response was, "Oh." No explanation, no apology, nothing.

I'm just hoping Ashley makes it to the end of the summer school session without breaking a bone, getting stiches, or putting out her one good eye...