Tag: Seclusion
-
If Not Seclusion and Restraint, Then What? A Better Way Forward for Students and Educators
You are not alone if your first reaction to criticism of restraint and seclusion is, “You don’t understand the kids we support,” or, “What do you expect us to do when a child kicks us?” Many educators arrive at “If not seclusion and restraint, then what?” from a place of exhaustion, moral injury, and fear.…
-
Missouri’s Wake‑Up Call: After the DOJ’s Findings, It’s Time to Ban Seclusion in All Schools
On February 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released its findings in a sweeping investigation of the Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD). DOJ concluded that SSD’s use of seclusion and restraint violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, describing “shocking overuse” of these practices and a pattern of…
-
When Helping Hurts: How Broken Systems Turn Compassion into Defense
We recently shared the link to a Seattle Times investigation that found staff in medical settings have used spit hoods over the past decade to subdue or control psychiatric patients and risk psychological distress, suffocation, and even death in the process. The comments poured in. Many came from healthcare workers describing being bitten, kicked, and…
-
Counting the Costs: How School Trauma Impacts the Entire Family
When we discuss school trauma, we often confine it to the child, a single incident or outburst filed away. Yet, this trauma rarely stays contained. It spreads, infiltrating the family’s entire world: the home, the marriage, the siblings, the finances, and the very identity of the parents. I learned this painful truth firsthand. My autistic…
-
Keeping All Students Safe Act Reintroduced: It’s Time to End the Use of Seclusion in Schools
The Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA) has been reintroduced in the 119th Congress by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ). This bill aims to prohibit seclusion, mechanical…
-
As a Former School-Based SLP, I Knew About the Harm Caused by Seclusion and Restraint, Then It Happened to My Son
I worked as a school-based SLP for seven years in Washington state. My population consisted of elementary and middle-school-aged children, and I purposefully volunteered to work with special population students, including autistic children. The caseload was enormous, and it was an eye-opening experience into the disparities in teaching and support for the population of students…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.