Category: Restraint
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I am a Disruptor
Some of you who have read my previous posts or listened to my live presentation may not be surprised, but I am no longer working in K12 education for the district in my county; this is not by choice. During my live event, Guy Stephens, founder, and director of Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, referred…
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Myths Behind Restraint and Seclusion – A Literature Review
Federal data indicates that in the United States upwards of 100,000 students are restrained and secluded (R&S) every year in public schools (Kim, 2022). The OCR defines restraint as the act of, “restricting the student’s ability to move his or her torso, arms, legs or head freely” (Office of Civil Rights, 2016) which includes restriction…
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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. I’ve also learned that it’s important to share our story – it’s not always easy for me to put our experiences and feelings into…
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Persistence in Advocacy: Shattering the Culture of Silence
From the moment I joined Brookside Primary School in the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD), I was deeply troubled by the distressing daily ritual of restraining and forcibly dragging students to the seclusion room. As an educator, I found the courage to express my concerns to the administrators, hoping for a resolution. Regrettably, those…
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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 systems of caring professionals that support youth that have been removed from their homes for a variety of reasons, most through no fault of their own. Youth in…
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Harwood Union Unified School District Bans Prone Restraint and Seclusion
About a year ago, an educator, Brian Dalla Mura, began sounding the alarm about the use of prone restraint and seclusion in the Harwood Union Unified School District (HUUSD). Over the last year, Brian has repeatedly spoken at HUUSD Board of Education meetings and talked to the press about the need for change. In July…
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National Education Association remains neutral on the Keeping All Students Safe Act
The National Education Association (NEA) has said they remain neutral on the Keeping All Students Safe Act. It is disappointing to see an organization whose vision is a great public school for every student standing on the sidelines while children suffer. Sadly today, there are many students who are not experiencing a great public school…
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The Keeping All Students Safe Act (2023): Now it’s time to get it passed
Today the Keeping All Students Act was re-introduced by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08)—alongside Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA). The legislation aims to protect students from dangerous seclusion and restraint discipline…
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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 and restraint in kindergarten and 1st grade, he started exhibiting trauma symptoms, including hypervigilance, nightmares, school refusal, distorted memories of the events, and saying he wanted to die. He inspired…
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HUUSD, Yes, You Can and Should Ban Seclusion
About a year ago, an educator began raising concerns about the use of prone restraint and seclusion in the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD). It was pretty shocking at the time to learn that Vermont still allowed young disabled children to be forced to the ground and held in a prone restraint, a practice…