Are you seeking an expert witness for a case involving crisis intervention, de-escalation, seclusion, or restraint? Whether you are seeking an expert for a special education due process hearing, a personal injury matter, or another legal proceeding, we may be able to help you find an appropriate expert. The individuals listed below have substantial professional knowledge and experience related to restraint, seclusion, disability rights, trauma-informed practice, student safety, training adequacy, workforce competency, and appropriate school-based supports.

Experts

If you are looking for an expert witness, we encourage you to contact these professionals directly to discuss their expertise, availability, and whether their background may be appropriate for the specific issues in your case.

Important: Although the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint knows and respects each individual included on this list, they are independent professionals. They are not employees, representatives, agents, or spokespersons for the Alliance, and inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement of any particular opinion, service, or outcome.

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Dr. Charles Bell is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State University. His research explores how out-of-school suspension, seclusion, and restraint impact families and teachers throughout the U.S. Dr. Bell has served as an expert witness in state and federal school punishment cases. The Society for the Study of Social Problems selected Dr. Bell’s first book, Suspended: Punishment, Violence, and the Failure of School Safety, as a finalist for the C. Wright Mills Book Award. Additionally, he has worked as a subject matter expert on school punishment, violence, and public health projects with the Centers for Disease Control and the National Center for School Safety. His scholarship has been featured on NBC News, NPR, Detroit News, PBS, WGLT, and in several international media outlets. New York University Press published his second book, No Restraint: Disabled Children and Institutionalized Violence in America’s Schools, on February 24, 2026.

Cases: Available for both due process and personal injury
Limitations: No jurisdictional limitations
Phone: 313-953-6772
E-mail: cabell6@ilstu.edu

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Lee Collyer is an education and special education leader with more than 20 years of experience in special education, behavioral health, school discipline, and programs serving students with complex behavioral and social-emotional needs. He currently serves as a School Climate Specialist with the New Mexico Public Education Department. Previously, Mr. Collyer served with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and as Director of Special Programs for an Educational Service District. His expertise includes special education compliance, restraint and seclusion, student discipline, manifestation determinations, behavioral supports, MTSS/PBIS, and educational programming. He has provided statewide technical assistance and trained school administrators and educators throughout his career. Mr. Collyer provides expert witness consultation and testimony regarding educational practices, special education, school discipline, behavioral programming, restraint and seclusion, and regulatory compliance.

Cases: Available due process and discrimination cases
Limitations: No jurisdictional limitations
Phone: 253-514-2292
E-mail: Lee.Collyer@gmail.com

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Dr. Kevin Ann Huckshorn is an international behavioral health consultant with more than 40 years of frontline experience in mental health and substance-use services. She provides training and consultation focused on preventing conflict and violence and reducing reliance on coercive practices, including seclusion and restraint. Her work has supported organizations across more than 40 U.S. states, and in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, and Finland.
From 2001 to 2009, Dr. Huckshorn directed the National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning at NASMHPD, including its National Technical Assistance Center for the Prevention of Seclusion and Restraint. She led development of the Six Core Strategies, an evidence-based framework for preventing seclusion and restraint. A licensed mental health nurse and certified substance-abuse clinician, she has expertise in program development, violence reduction, treatment adherence, and workforce development. She currently consults on behavioral-health projects and practices part-time as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist.

Cases: Available for both due process and personal injury
Limitations: Discussed on a case-by-case basis
Phone: 302-824-1218
E-mail: kevin@kahassociates.com

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Dr. David Jacobs is an experienced special education administrator, educator, and expert witness specializing in restraint and seclusion, inclusive education, and the provision of appropriate services to students with disabilities. He serves as Principal of Mainland Regional High School and is the founder of Inclusive Education Consultants, LLC. Over more than a decade in public education, Dr. Jacobs has served as a special education teacher, supervisor of special education, and director of special services. His expert work includes educational due process and personal-injury matters involving restraint, seclusion, behavioral supports, IEP implementation, school policy, staff training, and administrative oversight. He brings a practical, systems-level perspective to record review, standard-of-care analysis, report preparation, deposition, and testimony. Dr. Jacobs earned an Ed.D. focused on inclusive education and is completing advanced graduate study in education law.

Cases: Available for both due process and personal injury
Limitations: Any cases in Atlantic County, NJ
Phone: 609-402-1200
E-mail: Dave@inclusiveEducationConsultants.com

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Andy Prisco is the founder of Jumpstart Mastery and developer of Advanced Crisis Intervention Training (ACIT), an evidence-informed approach to crisis de-escalation, self-regulation, and workforce competency. He has worked in behavioral health and human services since 1999, with experience spanning psychiatric hospitals, institutional and residential services, juvenile justice, youth/family services, corrections, public safety, and emergency response. During nearly 14 years with the State of Washington, Prisco developed and led a psychiatric emergency response team program. He later served as Clinical Training Manager at Washington State’s Office of Forensic Mental Health Services, where his work included statewide training, workforce development, quality assurance, and clinical practice improvement. His current work focuses on how organizations prepare personnel to prevent, recognize, and respond to behavioral crises, with particular emphasis on de-escalation competency, decision-making, training effectiveness, and reducing reliance on restrictive interventions.

Cases: Available for both due process and personal injury
Limitations: No specific geographic limitation / as appropriate
Phone: 253-426-9826
E-mail: andy@jumpstartmastery.com

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Guy Stephens is the founder of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a national nonprofit dedicated to safer, more inclusive schools and to reducing and eliminating punitive, exclusionary, and outdated behavioral practices. A nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion, Guy brings extensive experience in policy advocacy, public education, professional training, and family-centered support for neurodivergent students. Guy has testified in support of restraint and seclusion legislation in states across the country and spoke before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor in support of the Keeping All Students Safe Act. He contributed to CPI’s Reframing Behavior training program and regularly presents at conferences, educational events, and university courses. His work promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches. Guy previously served as Board President of The Arc of Maryland. His advocacy began as a parent seeking appropriate supports for his neurodivergent son.

Cases: Available for both due process and personal injury
Limitations: Any school districts we support
Phone: 866-667-2576
E-mail: guy@endseclusion.org