Category: Advocacy
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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 with a wide spectrum of learning tools, and different approaches seemed to work well for different children at different times. Many years ago, when I began homeschooling my children, few virtual…
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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. In my daughter’s case, I often found it most productive to provide her with educational materials in subjects that fascinated her and then to get out of her way.
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Children in Connecticut Need Your Help!
If you are a Connecticut resident concerned and outraged by these practices, lawmakers need to hear from you. If you or your child has been affected by these practices, lawmakers need to hear from you. It does not matter if you have any direct connection to these practices; if you are a Connecticut resident who…
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Tell Nebraska Senators to “just say no” to LB811
The Arc of Nebraska is asking for help to stop a bad bill LB811. They are asking allies to take action ASAP to call Senators on the Education Committee and tell them not to vote LB 811, the Restraint Bill, out of Committee! This is another bad iteration of a bad bill. Despite amendments, it…
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Time to End Seclusion in Connecticut Schools
Hearst Media has recently covered the issue of restraint and seclusion in Connecticut schools. Now legislation is being introduced in Connecticut that would prohibit the of seclusion of special education students and would update the rules around the use of restraint. Representative Theresa Wood and Representative Tiffany Bluemle introduced Bill 1200. The bill is set to have a…
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Without Restraint: How Skiing Saved My Son’s Life
As a toddler, Ryan had difficulty controlling his emotions and was placed in a therapeutic school that relied on detrimental methods of behavior modification, such as physical restraint. Over the next four years, he was restrained hundreds of times at school, and we were advised to restrain him at home. He was also heavily medicated…
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Once upon a time, a tale of seclusion and restraint
School is an overwhelming place when you have sensory needs. You see, all day this little girl had to self regulate as she would easily become overstimulated. Loud sounds, bustling children, echoey gyms. Every day she tried to understand rules and assignments. Doing her best so that she would be considered a good little girl.
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Idahoans for Safe Schools urges the State Board of Education to ban the use of seclusion, and corporal punishment
Charmaine Thaner is a special education advocate, an experienced public speaker, a parent, and a changemaker in Idaho. On December 21st, Charmaine attended an Idaho State Board of Education meeting in Boise, Idaho, to share her story and encourage the members of the Board of Education to end the use of seclusion and corporal punishment in Idaho…
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The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint is looking for volunteers in Canada
We are making some progress in Canada on the issue of Seclusion and Restraint to light in recent national media and public discussion, but we need your help! We currently have only one Canadian, Chantelle Hyde, on our volunteer team. Chantelle has been working hard, meeting with public officials, and informing them about this heartbreaking…
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Support our Documentary: Restrained and Secluded in the Schoolhouse
In this full-length documentary film, we plan to raise awareness about the use of restraint and seclusion in schools nationwide. We want the audience to understand the harm of using these aversive techniques. Children, teachers, and staff are traumatized and injured, and far too many children have died due to restraint and seclusion. There is…