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The Loss of Civil Rights Protections for Our Most Vulnerable Students
Recent changes at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are placing the nation’s most vulnerable students—children with disabilities and Black and Brown children—at unprecedented risk. Under the guise of “common sense” reforms and a campaign against so-called “radical equity ideology,” critical federal protections…
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Massachusetts it’s Time to Speak Out on Proposed Changes to Time-Out and Seclusion in Schools
Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads regarding the safety and dignity of its students, especially those with disabilities. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has released proposed amendments to regulations governing the use of time-out rooms and seclusion in both public and private special education settings. The public comment period is open until…
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Seclusion in Schools: A Harmful Practice Disguised as “Last Resort”
Recent statements by some educators and lawmakers in Colorado, as reported in Denver7, frame seclusion as a “last resort,” an “important tool,” and a “safe and caring option” to prevent physical restraint in schools. These characterizations are not only misleading but dangerously minimize the well-documented harms of seclusion. Despite claims and state laws that seclusion…
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Bullied by Peers and Bullied by PBIS
As an autistic person, school was never a place I felt truly safe, included, or supported. Recently I came across a social media post based on the Autistic Not Weird 2022 Autism Survey. Seeing statistics like these—where almost 70% of autistic students reported having a negative school experience—unfortunately doesn’t surprise me at all. I was…
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“Out of My Mind,” A Book Review
Most people would find the thought of going through life unable to speak hard to imagine. We talk so much every day! What could you do instead? Maybe write? But you can’t write either because your hands won’t listen to your brain. You can’t gesture. You can’t even walk. But you have a brain that’s…
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Action Alert: Protect Illinois Students
In recent years, investigative reporting by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica uncovered widespread abuse of physical restraint and seclusion (often referred to as “time out”) in Illinois schools. These practices disproportionately affect young children, students of color, and students with disabilities, including those with autism, intellectual disabilities, and emotional disabilities. In response to these findings,…
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Honoring Joshie: A Call for Change in Special Education
Today, I stand before you to share the story of a remarkable child, a boy whose light shone brightly in a world that too often failed to see how innocent and loving he was. His name was Joshua Andrew Sikes—Joshie—a boy who loved Halloween, pumpkins, and the simple joy of human connection. He was a…
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Colorado Lawmaker Takes a Stand: Proposed Legislation to Ban Student Seclusion
In a significant move to protect students’ rights and well-being, Colorado lawmaker Reprentative Regina English has introduced House Bill 25-1178, aimed at banning the use of seclusion in schools across the state. If this crucial legislation were passed, Colorado would join a growing list of states that prohibit this controversial practice.
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Have You Heard of the Tendril Theory?
Have you heard of the Tendril Theory? I came across it online a few years ago, and understanding it has helped me to support my neurodivergent sons. The graphic I have seen shows a Medusa-like cartoon character. The person is engrossed in an activity with multiple swirling lines connecting from their head to the activity.
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Life After a Behavior Modification Program
In my junior year of high school, I was woken up in the middle of the night at about four in the morning by two strangers who escorted me to the airport. From there, I was flown from Houston, Texas, to La Verkin, Utah, to a place called Cross Creek Programs, also known as Cross…
