Supporting Someone Who Has Survived Seclusion or Restraint
I first started experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder around a month after being restrained for the first time. I was at a long-term residential... Read more.
The Lost Years of “Treatment”
My experience in the troubled teen industry began when I was 12 years old and was unnecessarily sent to rehab. There, I was regularly interrogated and pressured... Read more.
Amygdala Reset Station: Not Just for Kids
Several years before the world was shaken by COVID, I started to see a progressive increase in challenging behaviors in my second-grade classroom. I knew something... Read more.
Stranger Danger: Restrained at Daycare
Much of what I have learned about autism over the years has been to help my son feel more comfortable and successful in a world that can feel overwhelming to him.... Read more.
Look for the Good
As a Behavior Intervention Teacher in a large public school system, I collaborate with teachers and other instructional staff when they have students who are struggling... Read more.
Supporting Youth in Residential Care: Healing Through Relational Safety
Residential care for youth in the child welfare system is one of the longest-existing systems of care in the United States. Residential programs in the US offer... Read more.
First, do no harm: “Unschooling” a Neurodivergent Child (Part 4)
Homeschooling always raises questions about socialization. Many of my children’s friends were other homeschooled students they met through group activities and... Read more.
Seclusion and Restraint in Schools: Michigan is Ready for Change
My name is Cassie Atallah, and I’m the founder and director of Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint (EndSaR). After my son experienced seclusion... Read more.
First, do no harm: “Unschooling” a Neurodivergent Child (Part 3)
Unschooling and using standard educational materials are not mutually exclusive if the child chooses to engage with the subject matter. My family has experimented... Read more.
First, do no harm: “Unschooling” a Neurodivergent Child (Part 2)
Unschooling can work very well for people on the spectrum. Autistic people often have intense “special interests” that lead to deep and comprehensive learning.... Read more.