Category: Restraint
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Wrong Way Wisconsin: We Should Not Use Deadly Force for Classroom Disruptions
On October 23rd, a bill (SB 542) was introduced in the Wisconsin Senate that is quite concerning. The bill was introduced by Senators Rachael Cabral-Guevara, Duey Stroebel, and Cory Tomczyk and cosponsored by Representatives Gustafson, Murphy, O’Connor, Schmidt, Brandtjen, and Moses. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education. The purpose of the bill…
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Point and Level Systems: Misguided, Ineffective, Discriminatory, and Potentially Illegal
Point and level systems are another (misguided) tool in the behaviorist toolkit. The point and level system approach seems to have evolved from the idea of token economies based on B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning principles. A point and level system is a behavioral management approach often used by educators in programs for students who exhibit behaviors of…
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Please Stop Publicizing Classroom Disruptions
I have been concerned about a trend on social media for a while. I haven’t written about it because while I knew where I stood philosophically, I have been trying to understand how people who are probably well-intended people could be participating in this behavior. I know you have seen videos and pictures of large…
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Restraint, Seclusion, and Corporal Punishment: A No Consent Letter
The use of restraint, seclusion, and corporal punishment has become more common practices when responding to disability-related behaviors within school settings. A “No Consent” letter is a written document that states you, as a parent or guardian, do not consent to the school’s use of restraint, seclusion, and corporal punishment in response to your child’s…
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Elizabeth’s Story: You can’t be trauma-informed and cause trauma
Having a child with a disability or special needs comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. But for some of us parents, there is another looming fear, which is the fear that your child will be seriously injured or killed at school through the use of restraint or seclusion. In Pennsylvania, the PA…
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A Letter to the Burlington School District Board
My name is Brian Dalla Mura, and I am writing to express my deep concern and strong desire for the Burlington School District Board to establish a subcommittee dedicated to reviewing and revising its discipline and restraint and seclusion policies.
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There is No Shame in Growth
My very first job post-college was working in a residential center. The entire agency served kids across the spectrum. There was a locked subacute facility, a locked longer-term placement, a transition placement, and my cottage or “unit.” We had girls ranging in age, and our building was not locked. I applied for the position, not…
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Reducing and Eliminating Restraint in Residential Settings
If you are anything like me, you may have wanted to work with children and youth for a long time. I grew up knowing I would be working with children and youth in some capacity. I always thought it would be teaching, but here I am, a case manager who wants to advocate for the…
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A Last Resort?
Today, I want to share a more typical example of what we see leading to the use of restraint and seclusion – noncompliance. First, a trigger warning: what you are about to read will be difficult and upsetting. We will review an actual report, which we redacted to protect the victim’s identity. The report we…
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Why Restraint and Seclusion Should Be Federally Regulated
Federal data indicates in the United States, upwards of 100,000 students are restrained and secluded (R&S) every year in public schools. The purpose of R&S is to manage disruptive behavior and is intended to be used in situations that involve imminent danger of serious physical harm to the individual or others.