Category: Advocacy
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A letter to the Katonah-Lewisboro School District Board of Education
I am writing to you today on behalf of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR). AASR is a community of over 14,000 parents, self-advocates, teachers, school administrators, paraprofessionals, attorneys, related service providers, and others working together to influence change in the way we support children who may exhibit behaviors of concern. The mission of…
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A response to OCR’s request for information regarding the administration of school discipline
re-K through grade 12. OCR solicits these comments to inform determinations about what policy guidance, technical assistance, or other resources would assist schools that serve students in pre-K through grade 12 with improving school climate and safety, consistent with the civil rights laws that OCR enforces, to ensure equal access to education programs and activities.…
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Sanctioned Violence: Restraint Use in Indiana Medicaid Waiver Settings
Restraint is currently a hot topic with the media and lawmakers alike due to the recent deaths of people in custody at the hand of police officers. There are calls across the nation for police departments to ban the use of chokeholds and other dangerous restraints. But, what about restraint use in other settings besides…
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This is Paige’s story
Restraints and seclusions are gateways to physical and emotional abuse, especially in the absence of adequate oversight. Unfortunately, our former school district failed to provide a safe classroom environment for my seven-year-old autistic daughter, Paige, when she joined a multi-grade special day class at Eisenhower Elementary, a school within the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD)…
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Testimony to Illinois Senate Education Committee: It’s time to end prone restraint for all
Hello, my name i s Guy Stephens. I am the founder and executive director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint. I started the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint two and a half years ago, because my autistic son was traumatized through the use of restraint and seclusion at school. Today the Alliance Against Seclusion…
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What is the difference between the medical and social models of disability and why does it matter?
According to the medical model of disability, ‘disability’ is a health condition dealt with by medical professionals. Disabled people are thought to be different to ‘what is normal.’ It’s seen as abnormal. Disability’ is seen to be a problem of the individual. From the medical model, a disabled person is in need of being fixed…
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Kieran’s Story: The impact of restraint
I am writing this on behalf of my son, Kieran with his consent. Kieran is a beautiful boy who is now twenty. The events I will describe happened when he was 15 years old. As a bit of background, Kieran was born with multiple disabilities. He has cerebral palsy, autism, a cyst on his brain…
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Testimony in Support of Illinois SB2296
Good afternoon. My name is Guy Stephens. I am the executive director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, a community of over 12,000 parents, teachers, school administrators, and others who are working together to influence change to better support children while eliminating restraint and seclusion practices. I know firsthand how the use of restraint…
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Keeping All Students Safe Act: Call to Action
KASSA was originally introduced five years ago. It intended to establish minimum safety standards in schools similar to protections already in place in hospitals and non-medical community-based facilities. Rep. Beyer’s legislation was meant to help states establish monitoring and enforcement systems that would identify and implement evidence-based models to prevent and reduce physical restraint and…
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Is your child being restrained or locked in a room at school? A plea to New Brunswick’s Candidates – 2020 Election
In an era where global protests continue as a result of the inhumane treatment that led to the death of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of Police, similar Restraints, and Seclusions that equate to solitary confinement, continue to happen to children in schools in New Brunswick. Restraint and Seclusion room practices against even our…