| Are you the parent of a child with autism or another | | | | guidelines concerning restraint or seclusion use |
| disability that has behavioral issues, especially at | | | | inschools; |
| school? Are you concerned about what how special | | | | Almost ninety percent (90%) still allow prone |
| education personnel are handling the behavioral | | | | restraints; |
| issues? Has your child told you that "so and so hurt | | | | Only forty-five percent (45%) require or recommend |
| me today?" This article will be discussing 9 things that | | | | that schools |
| every parent must know about the use of restraint | | | | Automatically notify parents or guardians of restraint |
| and seclusion in school settings. | | | | seclusion use. |
| Here are 9 things that you need to know about the | | | | 7. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) |
| use of restraint and seclusion in school districts: | | | | in the United States Department of Education |
| 1. Definition of A restraint is--Any manual method, | | | | oversees the enforcement of IDEA. OSEP has |
| physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment | | | | funded a technical assistance project - one focused |
| that immobilizes or reduces the ability of an individual. | | | | specifically on positive behavioral interventions and |
| 2. Definition of Seclusion is--The involuntary | | | | supports and of best practices, including behavioral |
| confinement of an individual alone in a room or area | | | | supports. Because of its emphasis on positive |
| from which the individual is physically prevented from | | | | behavioral intervention and supports, you would |
| leaving.The involuntary confinement of an individual | | | | expect OSEP to be supportive of alternatives and |
| alone in a room or area, from which the individual is | | | | against the violent and abusive practice of restraint |
| physically prevented from leaving. Seclusion should | | | | or seclusion, but they are not! |
| only be used for the management of violent or | | | | 8. OSEP has done little, if anything, over the past 33 |
| self-destructive behavior. | | | | years to protect children with disabilities, from the |
| 3. The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive | | | | use of restraint or seclusion. The most unfortunate |
| Interventions and Seclusion (APRAIS) has stated | | | | outcome of OSEP's lack of back bone is that these |
| that: Aversives, restraints, and seclusion can cause | | | | procedures continue to be used causing injury, |
| emotional, psychological, and/or physical damage as | | | | emotional difficulty, and death! |
| well as death." The most dangerous practice which | | | | 9. Best Practices: IDEA recommends that students |
| causes the most injury and death; is of prone | | | | with behavioral challenges receive a system of |
| restraints which has the child face down! They | | | | positive behavioral interventions and supports. |
| cannot breath, and some children have died as a | | | | Positive behavioral interventions and supports is a |
| result of this barbaric method! | | | | research-based method for improving student |
| 4. The National Education Association has issued | | | | behavior and creating a safe and productive school |
| guidelines that discuss restraint or seclusion of violent | | | | climate. The practice of positive behavioral |
| students, stating that physical restraint should be | | | | interventions and supports is: proactive, |
| used with a student only when there is an imminent | | | | comprehensive and data driven. It should be noted |
| risk either of harm to a person or property damage. | | | | that this approach has been shown to significantly |
| 5. Parents, community members, and professionals | | | | reduce problem behaviors, disciplinary referrals, and |
| have had concerns about the length of time, that | | | | suspensions. |
| students are in time-out, as well as the supervision | | | | By having this information you will be able to fight for |
| and safety of students in seclusionary time-out | | | | your child, so that they are not injured or killed, by |
| settings. | | | | the dangerous practices of restraint and seclusion. |
| 6. National Disability Rights Network examined all | | | | Also by knowing what best practices are, you may |
| state laws, policies and guidelines. Including the District | | | | be able to advocate that these are carried out for |
| of Columbia shows that, of the 56 states and | | | | your child. This will help your child be safe and also be |
| territories in the United States: | | | | in an environment where they can learn! |
| Forty-one percent (41%) have no laws, policies or | | | | |