Category: Restraint
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Have You Been Restrained or Secluded?
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, in conjunction with a research team at the University of Texas at Austin, would like to offer you an opportunity to make your voice heard regarding the psychological impact of restraint and seclusion. We have designed a survey and will publish a paper on the psychological effects of restraint…
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The Department of Justice Has Restored and Updated a Critical Online Resource Related Combatting the Improper Use of Seclusion
I have some great news to share. Many of you may have noticed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) removed webpages related to the improper use of seclusion earlier this year. You might have wondered what this meant and whether this critical work would remain a priority. Today, I learned that the webpages related to…
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A Step Forward: Department of Justice Settlement with Montcalm Area ISD Signals Ongoing Commitment to Protecting Students from Seclusion and Restraint
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint welcomes the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Educational Opportunities Section regarding its investigation and settlement agreement with the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) in Michigan. This development is a powerful signal that there are those in the federal government who remain committed to protecting the…
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Announcing an Important Research Collaboration: Understanding the Psychological Impacts of Seclusion and Restraint
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) is excited to announce a new research partnership with a team from the University of Texas at Austin. Together, we are launching a foundational study to investigate the long-term psychological impacts of physical restraint and seclusion, focusing on the voices of those who have lived through these experiences.
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Louisiana’s HB 684 Fails to Protect Students From Harmful Restraint and Seclusion Practices
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) is deeply concerned about Louisiana’s proposed House Bill 684, which codifies the use of seclusion and physical restraint in schools for students with disabilities. While the bill includes incremental reforms, such as requiring cameras in special education classrooms, it lowers the threshold for mandatory IEP reviews, and it…
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From Compliance to Compassion: My Journey Beyond Crisis Intervention
For more than a decade, I’ve worked with students whose behaviors often challenge the systems around them. I was good at it. So good that I was often chosen to train others in crisis intervention. I taught professionals how to use physical holds and seclusion techniques under the guise of keeping students “safe”. And I…
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A Mother’s Appeal to Bloomingdale Public Schools Regarding the Use of Restraint and Seclusion
Nearly a year ago, I addressed this Board with significant concerns about the use of seclusion in our District. At that time, I specifically spoke about the practice of surrounding children with mats, enclosing them against a wall for unrestricted periods of time. During that time, I addressed Bloomingdale’s higher reporting of restraint and seclusion…
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More Restraint and Seclusion Will Not Make Oregon Schools Safer
Some of you may already know my story. I was the lead instructor for my district’s off-site intensive behavior program. I worked relentlessly to prove that even the most impacted students could be safely supported without resorting to restraint or seclusion. However, my goal to eliminate these practices was met with significant resistance. The belief…
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Proposed Legislation in Maine Would Roll Back Protections for Children Related to Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
LD 1248 would amend the law by changing the standard from “imminent danger of serious physical injury” to “imminent danger of injury,” a much broader and more subjective criterion. The bill would also remove the requirement that a student must voluntarily comply when being escorted by staff, allowing for more involuntary physical interventions without classifying…
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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…