Category: Restraint
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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…
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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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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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Loudoun County Public Schools Bans the use of Seclusion
Great news! Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia recently voted to revise their policy related to the use of restraint and seclusion. On February 25th the board of education met to vote on on a policy update (meeting). The Loudoun County School Board voted to update its restraint and seclusion policy, and will no longer…