I’ve always thought that the serenity prayer was beautiful.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference

However, I must admit that as an advocate, I have a hard time accepting things I cannot change. Whether foolish or not, I believe that we can change almost anything with enough effort, hard work, and determination. We often have far more power to change things than we think. That said, change is not easy and takes substantial time, sustained effort, and commitment, but I believe we all have the power to change the world.

My belief that we can influence meaningful change led me to leave my safe and well-established career to start the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint. I could not accept that physically restraining and forcing children into seclusion was the best we could do or that punitive and exclusionary discipline was necessary. This belief led to the development of our mission to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline.

Since starting the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, I believe that we have made a positive difference in the world. We have changed things that we had the power to change. We have made a difference in the lives of children and families, educators, and schools. We have influenced changes in policies and laws. We have shared our knowledge and amplified the voices of others. We have influenced changes in hearts, minds, and practice. We have worked to promote the best interests of children. I am very proud of the progress but keenly aware that there is much work to be done.

During this journey, I have had the privilege of working with many exceptional individuals. I’ve had the fortune to work with incredible families, caregivers, self-advocates, educators, and experts. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with dedicated colleagues who are doing this work for all the right reasons. Working alongside generous, caring humans who share, collaborate, and support each other toward our shared goals is an honor. There is the occasional outlier, but the vast majority of people involved in this work are doing it for the kids.

In the name of changing the things we can, I am always willing to have a conversation with anyone, even if we may have different beliefs, ideas, and experiences. This willingness means having discussions with those we might see as part of the problem. These conversations, in fact, are sometimes the most powerful and important. These conversations can lead to collaboration and meaningful changes we never imagined possible. Remember that there is not a single solution to most problems. Anyone who believes their solution is the only solution is not seeing the big picture. It is by bringing people together that we create meaningful and lasting change.

Changing systems and practices is demanding work that requires our full commitment. It’s more than just implementing new ideas; it’s about fundamentally reshaping our approach. This journey will take significant time, energy, and effort. We must brace ourselves for the challenges ahead, knowing that persistence, resilience, and unwavering dedication are essential.

• This work demands collaboration and difficult, honest conversations.
• We must stand together, united in our mission.
• Supporting those aligned with this mission is crucial.
• This is not a competition—there is no single solution or approach.
• We must embrace curiosity and reject judgment.
• Above all, we must believe that change is possible and relentlessly pursue it together.

Together, we have the power to transform—our collective belief and action will make it happen.