I had to physically defend myself today.

So... this happened in a special ed classroom. I don't know if I can say the exact type, but it's a classroom for kids with severe disabilities (non-verbal, wheelchair, etc.).<br><br>I've been a para at this school for 1 year. I've been working with 1 8th grader in this classroom in a 1:1 capacity for the whole time. She is non-verbal, has severe autism, and is wheelchair-bound. I don't know what her IQ is, but I wouldn't say she's intellectually disabled, she just doesn't communicate in the same ways that neuro-typical people do. Obviously I can't tell you her real name, so I'm going to call her Jen.<br><br>Long story short, today, I was trying to get Jen a snack. Me and the teacher were trying to get her to do some things for the snack, but she was not having it. Jen is very stubborn and likes to shut down when things don't go her way. When she is in shut-down mode, we usually just let her be.<br><br>Well, today, for some reason, she was not having it. I don't know why, but she got out of her chair and started kicking at me. I tried to get her to stop while defending myself, but the kicks were just getting worse. I yelled for the teacher for help because I was fearing for my safety at this point. She was kicking me extremely hard and I tried blocking and shielding to the best of my ability and I thought I was going to throw up from the force of the kicks. I never thought in a million years she would do this to me. Yes, she has thrown tantrums at me before, but she never was physically violent and she never hit me. I think she was just having a bad day... no clue. I have no idea why she was kicking me so bad. <br><br>I'm 6'0" 180 lbs of muscle mass. I'm not skinny. I know how to work out and I know how to handle my own in a fight. I've taken many classes, I boxed when I was younger, and I consider myself to very tough. This little girl is 100 lbs at most, she's in a wheelchair, and she's just 5'6" at most. I never in a million years thought she could easily kick me like the way she did. The kicks were so hard I was hurt for like an hour.<br><br>Long story short, I was able to grab her arms, get her in her chair and in her harness, and then I told the teacher I needed to go home because I didn't feel safe. The teacher didn't want me to go home, but I told her if I have to stay, I'm calling the police if she kicks me again. I was not kidding.<br><br>This has really left me reeling. I have no idea what to think after this. I mean, I'm just a para... what am I supposed to do in situations like this? I'm not allowed to physically restrain students and I'm not allowed to physically interfere with a students body. But yet... I had to do that to defend myself today. I'm so confused and I just don't know what to think.<br><br>Part of me feels like this is a red flag. I don't want to be at school if I'm fearing for my safety. I just don't know what the hell to do.