Parents Decry 'Excessive' Use Of Restraint

 Restraints are only supposed to be used to protect a child or others from harm, but advocates say school staff excessively use the practice, at times as a form of discipline or out of frustration. Read More >

Schools Fail To Curtail Restraint, Seclusion Of Students With Disabilities

 New federal data shows that educators are continuing to rely on restraint and seclusion to address behavior issues among students with disabilities in the nation's schools. Read More >

Golden Globe Nominated Autism Movie 'Music' Will Get Warning Label

 Under pressure from advocates, changes are in store for a forthcoming movie about a girl with autism that picked up two Golden Globe nominations this week. Read More >

Efforts To Curb Restraint And Seclusion Still Largely Piecemeal

Nearly a decade after Congress first considered restrictions on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, a new report finds that rules continue to vary significantly from state to state. Read More ;

Disability Advocates Pressure FDA To Finalize Ban On Shock Devices

Months after the Food and Drug Administration pledged to ban devices used to administer electric shocks on people with developmental disabilities, advocates are asking what the holdup is. Read More >

Lawmakers Revive Plan To Curb Restraint, Seclusion In Schools

Legislation establishing first-ever federal oversight of restraint and seclusion in the nation's schools is back on the table. Read More;

Abandoning Restraint And Seclusion Has Unexpected Benefits, Study Finds

A new study finds safety improved and costs went down when a large service provider for people with developmental disabilities decided to move away from using restraint and seclusion. Read More >

Feds Release New Stats On Restraint And Seclusion In Schools

New data on nearly every public school in the nation shows that students with disabilities continue to be disciplined and experience restraint and seclusion at far higher rates than others. Read More >

Federal Budget Boosts Special Ed Funding, Addresses Autism Wandering

A $1.3 trillion government spending package will aid those with disabilities who wander while increasing special ed funding and tackling restraint and seclusion in schools, among other issues. Read More >

States Lack Consensus on Restraint, Seclusion in Schools

Despite federal officials weighing in years ago, a new analysis finds rules surrounding restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities continue to vary from state to state. Read More >

Report Finds More States Limiting Restraint, Seclusion

Though federal efforts to restrict the use of restraint and seclusion in schools have stagnated, an analysis finds a growing number of states have implemented laws to curtail the practices.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/03/31/report-states-restraint/20173/

Report: Changes Fail To Curb Restraint, Seclusion

Despite many states making policy updates in recent years, a new analysis suggests that students with disabilities continue to experience high rates of restraint and seclusion at school.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/11/03/report-changes-restraint/19809/

School Restraint, Seclusion Bill Introduced In Congress

Lawmakers are renewing their push to enact first-ever federal legislation regulating the use of restraint and seclusion in the nation's schools.   http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/05/10/school-restraint-introduced/17919/

Representative Miller Speaks Out on Restraint & Seclusion

 Did you miss the ABC News interview with Representative Miller (D-CA) on restraint and seclusion? Watch it now. And help us ensure the safety of all students and school personnel: Voice your support for the Keeping All Students Safe Act.  
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/death-school-child-restraints-spark-controversy-17842757   http://www.ncld.org/disability-advocacy/action-alert-center/support-keep-students-safe-act?utm_source=newsletter_december_13_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=ldaction
 

Data show students with disabilities more often restrained at school

Students with disabilities are significantly more likely than those without disabilities to be restrained by an adult at school, according to data released Tuesday by the Education Department. The statistics show 69% of students restrained during the 2009-10 school year had disabilities, though students with disabilities represented just 12% of the overall student population surveyed. Disability Scoop (3/7)  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/03/07/feds-disabilities-restrained/15127/

How are teachers being trained to use restraint in schools?

Questions are arising about some of the private companies that provide training for educators on the use of restraint and seclusion practices with students who have special needs in California schools. Disability advocates say the training is seen as increasingly important as educators are feeling overwhelmed by larger class sizes and fewer resources. However, there is little oversight of the companies that provide the training or recommend which techniques should be used, some say. The Bay Citizen (San Francisco) (7/7) http://www.baycitizen.org/education/story/schools-protocols-restraining-unruly/

"Shouldn't School Be Safe?"

For parents concerned that their child is experiencing restraint or seclusion at school, information can be hard to come by. Now a new guide is offering practical advice for dealing with the issue. A 23-page document being put out by the disability advocacy group TASH is designed to give parents a straightforward look at the steps they can take to prevent the use of restraint & seclusion, identify if it's occurring & react. The guide offers specific recommendations on the type of language that should & should not be included in a student's individualized education program, or IEP, & advice on spotting signs of restraint & seclusion even if a child is unable to talk about it. The Guide can be found at http://tash.org/tash-offers-free-parent-guide-on-restraint-and-seclusion-%E2%80%98shouldn%E2%80%99t-school-be-safe%E2%80%99/

Feds: Many States do Not Regulate Seclusion, Restraints

February 25th, 2010 From AP/Los Angeles Times:

A report from the U.S. Department of Education this weeks shows that 19 states do not in any way regulate their schools’ use of seclusion & restraints on misbehaving students. And even though 31 states do have some type of policy, the report found, many are weak & do not clearly spell out proper disciplinary procedures for teachers to follow. At least 20 deaths and many injuries were attributed to the use of seclusion & restraint.

Legislation on these practices is now working its way through congress. I also suspect that these practices are used in other countries, but have not seen any studies on their use in other countries.

GAO Releases Report on Restraint & Seclusion of Children

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report containing the details of 10 restraint and seclusion cases in schools & treatment centers, including many involving children with disabilities. The report is at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09719t.pdf

Seclusion & Restraints

Christina Samuels writes in Education Week, http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/04/17/29restrain.h28.html?tkn=YSLFv%2Fnz0d0firiAX1F7H%2Fu7fFAPWzOu2QkE that the use of seclusion & restraints has prompted local attention in some deadly cases, but that national action has been hampered because the federal government does not track the issue & state policies vary widely.

Advocacy groups seeking action have responded by releasing a report, ”School is Not Supposed to Hurt,” http://www.napas.org/ which documents deaths & injuries among students. The Government Accountability Office plans to release its own report in the next several weeks.