FROM THE AUTHOR-- Mike Kruger, Online Outreach Specialist for the House Committee on Education and Labor, sent me an email this morning about an important story running now in Parade Magazine on the use of seclusion and restraint on children with disabilities and others-- a previous blog topic here on DI (http://disabilityintel.blogspot.com/2009/01/school-seclusion-and-restraint-abuse.html)
Parade Magazine has a print circulation of 30 million readers, so about 10% of America will be exposed to the issue! After you read the article in print or online, you can comment online, and I encourage you to do so. Please see the story at: http://www.parade.com/news/
The House Committee on Education and Labor has a blog post about the Parade story and some of the progress Committee Chairman Miller has made on the issue of seclusion and restraint. It's also a great article, please be sure to read it and respond, also: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/
We can make a difference through our blog comments!
17 comments:
I work in a behavioral health center and I know the importance of restraint and seclusion when a child is unable to be subdued or “controlled” otherwise. Of course there are right and wrong ways to do this. If you do it wrong, both the restrainer and the child can be seriously hurt. It is important to help the children without getting physical, however, there are times when that’s the only way to handle the situation.
E.C.Palacios
In a school setting I never believe a child should be secluded from the other children just because they have a disability. In fact, I am all for inclusion in the classroom which is what I have observed the times I have subbed in the McAllen school district. And I have seen children with special needs being including along with the rest of the other children. I think it is not only beneficial to the child itself but also to the other chilren because they are exposed to people with different disabilities and are able to see that they desire the same things as they do which is to have friends and learn.
As far as the issue of restraining, I do feel that there has to be guidelines and training for teachers and staff on the proper ways to restrain a child when needed. It was shocking to read in the article how the two children died at the hands of the teachers that were trying to restrain them, those types of situations should never happen. And I am glad that the House Committee on Education and Labor is getting involved to try to come up with a resolution to the problem.
-Anabel Ponce
REHS 6300
Restraining and secluding children, including those with disabilities, is not right. In a hospital setting I can see the use of restrains to keep the child from hurting themselves, but the nurses and doctors involved are well trained. I don’t believe that retrains should be used in a school setting. . I can understand that some children can be hard to control and certain disabilities may enhance a child's rage or ability to remain in control of their feelings, but this is where I think the school should get more training. I feel that teachers should be trained properly if they will be around children with disabilities. Even if the child doesn't have a disability teacher should learn what to do when they can't control a child. I also feel that secluding children as punishment is just wrong. I think that people who deal with children should be well trained in different situations that may occur and in how to handle these situations. I think we could definitely find better ways to handle tough situations.
I have worked with many children in pediatric rehabs and believe that restraint is sometimes necessary for effective treatment. However, it can easily become a negative act when emotions and/or physical force are not properly controlled. Seclusion on the other hand, I am totally against. Children that are exposed to seclusion can have adverse consequences on their mental development. I believe that all children should be equally considered, not matter what environment he or she is in.
I worked in a special education setting where at times children would become extremely violent, possibly injuring others in the classroom. Restraining is essential when trying to protect others who may be in danger, only individuals must be trained to do this appropriately. I feel this should only be done when others are in danger.
Hey Anable, i think your mistaken with the "inclusion" being talked about here Seclusion is not only for kids in special education, seclusion is when a child misbehaves and they remove him/her to a safer setting (a least its supposed to be safer for themselves and welfare of others) sadly some dont seclude children who have misbehaved appropriately and there are very sad cases like the ones we read about... on the other hand while inclusion is good for academics, sometimes when you have severe behavioral or pathological disorders like bi-polar or scitz you actually put alot of other people in danger....but to each there own.. n e ways if kids are not allowed to be restrained appropriately look at what happens to school in the "Bronx or LA" not good soon the kids run the schools and academic suffers for all kids... would your children feel safe if there was a murder or beating everyday and no one did anything about it because they were scared to inappropriately restrain?
adriana
Wow after reading some stories on this topic it was apparent that some of these tearcher/caregivers were going on about the wrong way on secludsion and restraint against students with disabilities. I no that at times it is important to restrain and seclude children that tend to be aggressive or cause injury to others. However, there is a right way to do everything. Causing death or taping a child's mouth is by the far the worse thing to do. Extensive trainings on how to prevent physical harming actions should be implemented for teacher and caregivers that deal with these type of child. Hopefully a solution is achieved after so many reportings of seclusion and restraint abuse.
I believe that there are times when a student needs to be restrained. For example, I'm a school counselor. I had an incident last year where a girl tried to run off the campus onto the street. I didn't feel like I had a choice, but to try my best to restrain her. She had mentioned in the past that she wanted to kill herself by getting hit by a car. So the suicidal intent was already there. After this incident I had to go to a training on the proper ways to restrain a student. I believe everyone who works with children should receive some sort of training on this topic. It's just sad that sometimes people take it too far and the child ends up getting hurt. Hopefully the lawmakers will look at this issue very carefully.
Vanessa C. (6300)
That is just terrible! it is an outrage that nothing is being done! How can people do that to people with disabilities? DOnt they have a heart? I especially like what one senator wrote.." itis an outrage" yes it is! DO something about it! why is nothing being done to those who harm the disabled? There should be harsher punishment for those! (just my opinion). There have to be better ways to hold on to people with disabilities. I can understand the restraint part because Ive been around children with CP and restraints are necessary but locking students in a room!? thats horrible. SOmething needs to be done and there should be cameras in the special education rooms.
Outraged ~Aissa S.
I have had children in special education classes in several school districts over the last 25 years. These include children with physical and emotional disabilities and children with intellectual disabilities.
There are good restraints and bad restraints. I have not been able to read the story in Parade magazine, so I can't comment on it or what the article refers to as seclusion and restraint abuse.
Seclusion is a separation from other students. The law requires the "least restrictive environment" for special education students. The goal is inclusion with students who do not have disabilities. To separate a student not only from other students but from those with disabilties would be a very serious manner, and would require very careful justification.
There is justification for separation of some students who have disabilities from those who do not have disabilities. Putting the two together indiscriminately would not be in the best interests of either. There is justifiction for separation of a student from others for disciplinary reasons or for the protection of the student secluded or classmates. Such separation can be so serious a matter that it may require procedures in the school similar to court proceedings, with due process rights for the student who is being separated or secluded.
Special education students who are tantruming or violent may require restraints. Students lacking the mental or emotional ability to obey the teacher, follow school rules, or even staying in the classroom, may require restraints proportional to the situation.
Of course restraints cannot be excessive or done punitively or in anger.
In 25 years I have not seen nor have my children experienced any seclusion or restraints that I have considered abusive. As a lawyer and a vigorous advocate for my children, I would have objected to any restraint or seclusion that I considered excessive. In fact there have been times I wanted more restraints on my kids and more structure. I have received calls saying that my special ed child is not cooperating, so I should take him from school. I wondered why the school was not doing its job.
I have heard stories that have appalled me. A collegue at UTPA who is legally blind spoke of blind children tied to chairs. I have heard of locked rooms at schools that sound suspiciously like jails, and are used for purposes that sound like incarceration. I am appalled to hear of young children and children with disabilities arrested at school for behaviors that are are clearly related to their disability
Seclusion or restraint This area should be carefully studied. Guidelines and protocol should be created to make sure that children who are supposed to receive the full benefits of the school system are actually receiving it, but that that they are not a danger to themselves or others, and are not disrupting the education of other students, including those with disabilities
It is crucial that special education teachers be adequately trained. There is a very high turnover of teachers in special education classes. Special education teachers should be the elite among teachers, experienced and highly trained. Too often they are new and inexperienced, poorly supervised, frustrated at the difficulties of their jobs and planning their departures to other occupations. Those who are left are burnt out and cynical, remaining in their jobs because they have no other options. This is a major cause of problems in this area
David Whitten
Although I believe seclusion and restraint are not the best ways to handle a situation where a chid can not be controlled, I understand that sometimes you have to do it so that the child won't hurt himself or someone else. However, I think the issue that we should be looking at is "what are we doing to teach teachers in schools the PROPER way to handle the situation?". A teacher wrestling a child and another teacher sitting on a child with Aspergers is not the best way (I'm sure everyone will agree with me). It is good that these stories are out there so people can see that this really does happen and more than that, something should be done about it. The death of a child should never be the "best solution" to the situation. That is plain wrong. I'm sorry but if a teacher is wrestling a child to death, the problem is not the restraining...it's the ignorance of him/her not knowing the proper way to do it. I'm glad that something like providing funds to train staff and establishing new rules is being taken into consideration. This is a serious issue!
-Claraly Pena
REHS 6300
The area of restraint and seclusion is necessary to avoid a child injuring themselves or others. What needs to be assessed is the course of action that takes palce. The concern is restraining the child the appropriate way to avoid any endangerment. This area is a very sensitive area for the professionals are responsible for the childs safety and welfare as well as the other children. There are such high liabilities. Especially, since we are in a state of " Law Suit Abuse".
Tina Casares
REHS 6300
The area of restraint and seclusion is necessary to avoid a child injuring themselves or others. What needs to be assessed is the course of action that takes palce. The concern is restraining the child the appropriate way to avoid any endangerment. This area is a very sensitive area for the professionals are responsible for the childs safety and welfare as well as the other children. There are such high liabilities. Especially, since we are in a state of " Law Suit Abuse".
Tina Casares
REHS 6300
Restraint and seclusion in the classroom is such a touchy subject. I know personally, as a substitute teacher for the special education program, sometimes it is mandatory to restrain a child to protect other children. The difference is, it is done appropriately and never with anger. In some cases, emotions run wild and I think that a lot of educators are not trained properly. I can see how easily it can be to let things get out of hand. Unfortunately, it is happening more and more to children with special needs that might not have the voice to speak out.
Jeanette G.
this is the second article that i have come across with regards to seclusion and restraint. There really needs to be more available education in terms of dealing with issue appropriately.
-Pete Castaneda III
rehs 6300
This is the second article with this story. It is good to hear that this article will be able to reach so many people. One may say O its only 10% of the country but you have to look at this way 10% of the country is around as many people that live in the whole state of Texas alone. That is a lot of people that will be reading this article and receiving this article. As far as the article goes I see that seclusion is sometimes necessary in some situations but it should not be a come practice for any school district or even any person that has taken a profession that is designed to serve the public. As far as the issue of restraining, I would have to say that I believe and have learned with previous jobs that there has to be guidelines and training for anyone that is going to use restrains on another person. I would say that restraints have no place in any school environment because this will make the student feel like not want to go to school and make them feel more isolated than they may already feel.
Juan L.
The information in the article is truly shocking. I completely agree that additional training is needed for everyone working in a school setting. I also agree with Anabel that seclusion shouldnt be an option. I understand special circumstances, but with proper training, situations like the ones described in that article can be avoided.
MG GARZA
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