Tag: Seclusion
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Support for House Bill 1479 in Washington State
Over the last several months, I have worked with many parents, educators, and advocates across Washington State who have committed to reducing and eliminating restraint and isolation. The bill before you is a strong piece of legislation that resulted from the collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders. This bill is a step forward to…
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Without Restraint: How Skiing Saved My Son’s Life
As a toddler, Ryan had difficulty controlling his emotions and was placed in a therapeutic school that relied on detrimental methods of behavior modification, such as physical restraint. Over the next four years, he was restrained hundreds of times at school, and we were advised to restrain him at home. He was also heavily medicated…
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Once upon a time, a tale of seclusion and restraint
School is an overwhelming place when you have sensory needs. You see, all day this little girl had to self regulate as she would easily become overstimulated. Loud sounds, bustling children, echoey gyms. Every day she tried to understand rules and assignments. Doing her best so that she would be considered a good little girl.
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The Reality of Isolation Rooms in New Jersey’s Public Schools, and Efforts to Ban the Practice
In the state of New Jersey, the issue of seclusion and restraint, specifically the topic of quiet rooms, are the subject of recent media attention. Isolation rooms, otherwise known as quiet rooms, are padded rooms where children are placed for disruptive behavior. Isolation rooms are known to have traumatic effects on students, and they are…
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I wish I had known then what I know now
Around 2011, I was hired to be a para at a school in Utah for disabled children with what the district termed “severe behaviors.” These were the kids, teens, and adults that special education teachers in typical schools refused to work with; many of the students were dumped at this school and effectively abandoned by…
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An Educators Perspective: Stop restraining and secluding disabled children in the name of safety
Last summer, I wrote an article about my evolution with the impact of seclusion and restraint on children with disabilities. I am a special education teacher specializing in intensive behavior. It may or may not be surprising to some, depending on your development, that I believe that we should not be restraining or secluding children…
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Idahoans for Safe Schools urges the State Board of Education to ban the use of seclusion, and corporal punishment
Charmaine Thaner is a special education advocate, an experienced public speaker, a parent, and a changemaker in Idaho. On December 21st, Charmaine attended an Idaho State Board of Education meeting in Boise, Idaho, to share her story and encourage the members of the Board of Education to end the use of seclusion and corporal punishment in Idaho…
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It’s time to end seclusion in Idaho schools
Tracie Boyer is a mother and advocate in Idaho. On December 21st, she attended an Idaho State Board of Education meeting in Boise, Idaho, to share her story and encourage the members of the Board of Education to end the use of seclusion and address the issue of behaviorism in Idaho schools. What follows is…
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The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint is looking for volunteers in Canada
We are making some progress in Canada on the issue of Seclusion and Restraint to light in recent national media and public discussion, but we need your help! We currently have only one Canadian, Chantelle Hyde, on our volunteer team. Chantelle has been working hard, meeting with public officials, and informing them about this heartbreaking…
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Support our Documentary: Restrained and Secluded in the Schoolhouse
In this full-length documentary film, we plan to raise awareness about the use of restraint and seclusion in schools nationwide. We want the audience to understand the harm of using these aversive techniques. Children, teachers, and staff are traumatized and injured, and far too many children have died due to restraint and seclusion. There is…