I'm kind of speechless...this is horrifying

Prosthetic limbs are a medical device. I worked in many criminal justice and juvenile court and handling a lot of child abuse situations. Withholding a medical device is medical neglect and abuse. She needs to be turned in.

if she had her arm amputated as a toddler, it's entirely possible that she doesn't remember a time without her prosthetic. i feel like that makes taking it away even worse. sure she might not wear it sometimes but it was always there if she needed it.

Ignoring all the really horrific stuff that everyone has gone over already, the fact she didn't tell the other parent what the entire punishment was in its self is a massive red flag in the relationship.

Thank you Jo + almost every commenter. This made me realize just how messed up my parents' behavior is. They've restricted my access to my wheelchair and taken my other aid away whenever I don't meet their demands. Their demands often are impossible and/or put my safety in danger. Eating, drinking, peeing, and being able to move around the house isn't a privilege. It shouldn't be restricted just because my progress in recovery isn't what they want.

We wonder why children go to school thinking it's okay to play 'keep away' with an inhaler. They teach their kids it's a normal thing.

A plus side to the argument happening in front of the kid: that girl now knows her father is 100% in her corner on this and will stand up for her when someone tries to use her disability against her. That's an incredibly important thing for a kid in a bad situation.

I’ve seen parents and providers take away AAC devices (helping the learner talk) because the child kept asking for the same thing. We compare it to cutting out someone’s tongue. You NEVER take away a device!

I'm a speech therapy student, and the first thing that came to my mind when hearing this story is a child not having their alternative communication device. I've never encountered a parent taking their child's communication device as a punishment, but I have seen parents forgetting these devices at home or just failing to bring it along for their kid. That's always just not sat right with me. It's one thing to forget a kid's backpack or swimsuit or something. But to forget their means of communication? I can't imagine.

As an RN, I sympathize and TOTALLY agree that a prosthesis should never, ever be withheld from the amputee for any reason whatsoever. Bullying abuse of very misguided parental power. Praying dad gets full custody!!!

I worked with disabled kids in a school. There were a few kids with AAC devices (basically computers with a speech software for kids who cant speak) and a few teachers would take these devices away or told the kids to put it into their school bag during lunch break. They made the kids put away their voice! Or didnt allow them to use it all the time and independently. That was also an experience that made me really angry for the kids!

The fact that the list of "punishments," given to OP didnt include the prosthetic shows that the mother knows how horrible it is. And was probably hoping daughter wouldnt mention it and OP wouldn't notice.

It kind of feels like if my parents used my depression medication as a punishment. Like if I don’t do good enough, they take it away. If that happened, I would go through the symptoms of withdrawal and slip back into my pain. That’s all I could think of relation wise, but truly that story is horrific

So I watched him record this live and I went off. As an amputee myself the only comparison I think would even come close is tying someone’s meat arm behind their back and not letting them use for a week as a punishment. This is definitely abuse and although the dad shouldn’t have lost it as much as he did, that little girl is going to remember that he stood up for her rights.

I’ve been night blind my entire life (low vision in good lighting) and i remember my parents not taking my fear of the dark seriously because it’s “normal” when I lost an entire sense that people rely on. It’s not the same as a parent taking away a prosthetic but it convinced me for years my vision wasn’t as unreliable as it is. Parents teach kids how to view their disabilities and that is inherently how we view ourselves as disabled people. Acting like mobility and safety and consistency are privileges is an easy way to make disabled kids hate themselves, speaking as someone who’s been there

the closest i can relate is when my glasses broke and my mom refused to buy me new ones for 3 years because she thought i was too irresponsible with them. i was still able to function but when i finally got new glasses i was like holy shit this is amazing i can see so much more

This reminds me of a story on Reddit about a physically abusive mum who would use her child joint disorder to punish her by dislocating her arms legs and jaw. This mum just so happens to be emotionally abusing her daughter with a disability instead of physically abusing her which can be just as damaging.

I am a special education teacher and a direct care provider for people with developmental disabilities. Simply put, this is medical neglect, and is reportable. There is no side-talk, it boils down to just that. You cannot withhold a medical device, *period*.

"Cancer tried to take your life but it only got your arm and now I'm going to take your prosthetic arm when you misbehave" is some stunning parenting. I hope someone is able to talk some sense into the mother.

This reminds me of the story of the little girl who slouched. Her step parent put her in a makeshift brace to force her to sit up. Got taken to court. Got state issued parental courses. Got visitation back. And then did it again, causing permanent damage to her spine.

as an old lady who raised 4 kids i was enraged about it even before you gave insight/background. I am glad the other parent said something! That child needs to know someone will defend her right to basic humanity! She needs to know it is ok to defend herself in the future. I probably would be hollering at the court myself if an ex had pulled that BS on my child!