This work is more important than ever!!! 

As many know, I got involved with The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint 4 1/2 years ago, about seven months after Max Benson was killed by restraint while at school. I couldn’t just let his death sit with zero action to ensure this never happens again. Unfortunately, it has continued to happen many more times since he was killed. Max would be 18 if he wasn’t killed in November 2018. 

 I will continue to fight systems that harm our kids, educate systems and individuals to understand what our autistic kids may or may not need as there is no cookie-cutter approach to supporting our Neurodivergent kids, to educating the ND learner and what each individual needs to be successful. But one thing we do know is seclusion and restraint are harmful and can be deadly in far too many cases. 

 WE KNOW BETTER!!!! NOW is the time to DO BETTER!

Please consider making a donation to support the amazing work this organization is doing to stop these barbaric practices that are so often used on our autistic kids, our kids with trauma, our kids with black and brown skin, our kids who have learning and thinking differences-all in the name of education, control, and compliance. 

It’s not working, and the research has informed us as to why these approaches don’t change behavior. What we do know is that these practices are harmful and even deadly in some cases. Max Benson’s family knows this all too well. He never came home from school that day in November, just after he turned 13 years old, because he became upset, spit, and then was quickly taken down and held face down for 1 hour and 45 minutes before he died. This is a tragedy like so many others that did not have to happen.

So please consider donating; even $10.00 can make a significant difference in supporting families & individuals who have experienced these practices, or it can help bring this education to districts, schools, and organizations on ways to support students, even our most challenging students. Every dollar can make a difference. 

Thank you for considering ways to support and help celebrate five years of The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint! 

 For additional resources or information, please check out the website: www.endseclusion.org. You can also find AASR on all social media platforms.