Abuse of Seclusion and Restraint

[multisnootylives1]

The teachers should have been more rough on this little retard!

[xmom1011x]

I thank God that I decided to homeschool my children! No kid should ever have to go through that!

[northernlightning]

I also thank God my son made it. He was brutalized in a NYS facility. After two months of brutality I find out that one of the so called experts is an unlicensed doctor and I'm still trying to make sense out of it. It's an outrage that this goes on.

[KTM0011]

this "therapy" is cruel and unusual punishment so sue the school districts ass and see what gets done when the money gets involved

[Napalmxxx2]

yet again the system fails, you know their going to continue to get away with this until someone goes by and guns the school in question up utterly destroying the room or files the biggest lawsuit in the history of the world.

[Kelseysmyangel]

So horrible, Instead of dealing with your son they take what they tink is the easy way out and just put him in a room...I would have been so outraged. And Im sure u were as well!

[jmb171]

You can tell I am getting angry by my typos and mispellings... Sorry for all my responses, just wanted to better understand the situation, and to educate others that this method is necessary for some and is highly regulated by MOST professionals.

[jmb171]

The fact that the room was used once more after it was removed from his plan, shows that his "teachers" weren't even bothering to read his plan or stay informed.

Finally, it is my goal and that of my colleagues, to make sure that NO PARENT ever feel overwhelmed, confused, trapped, or desperate.

Any chance you will move to MA? ;-)

[jmb171]

I'm on your site. In order to use a method, such as a seclusion room or restraint hold, there should be an "over abunfance" of data. The fact that they didn't even take ABC data is disgusting.

He was in there 18 min one time, 50 min another... no criteria was set for "readiness" to return to class.

Time out procedures are NEVER to be used as punnishment, only a means for his protection.

It sounds as if they weren't trained, and didn't know what to do when a behavior occurred. Inexcusable.

[jmb171]

Most states, by law, provide home behavioral therapy services. Even if he is home schooled, he would be eligible.

I know you had a horrible experience and may not be interested, however when I was in college, I was a home therapist. With the right person, it's extremely beneficial.

These programs are run in the home, and family members are present. You will know what is being done.

I am still close to those families. Having dinner with one tomorrow! Also helpful for siblings...

[jmb171]

I'm horrified to hear their CPI was one 1/2 day. Believe me, I understand not wanting to persue lawyer fees and stress on your family. However if you wanted, you would have a very strong case

My friend in GA emails me if she has a question about her son, and for advice on how best to help him. Through email, I coach her with some basic, positive reinforcement programs. All hands off. Specific to his needs, as it should ALWAYS be

If you ever need support, I am an email away. Don't hesitate

[jmb171]

As I mentioned, we have the RNs do body checks 2X daily, to ensure staff are performing anything hands on correctly. We document EVERYTHING and inform parents immediately, even if it's a tiny scratch.

If we see anything out of the ordinary, we check to see who the staff were at that time, and immediately retrain CPI techniques, OR terminate them on the spot.

This is why we stress positive reinforcement and communication training for each student. This is to prevent the need for restraint

[jmb171]

Horrible. A close family friend moved from MA to GA a few months back. Her son is 5 and has a diagnoses of Autism-NOS. She told me the difference in knowledge and services in GA is pathetic, to say the least.

True CPI training is done in 2 days of 8 hour classes. My program is residential and deals with children and adults who are a danger to themselves and others (two have set fires, one bolted and ran out to a main highway). We train CPI over 4 days, and are specific to each child.

[jmb171]

So, with all that said, my colleagues and I do not take this subject lightly. This is why I am so passionate in response. If this method is not being used as a last resort, by certified individuals..then YES. It's wrong.

I've worked with 100 families over the years. Best advice? Know state regulations. Know your rights. Be present and visible! Watch the staff and the other children. Use your parental instincts. Hands on methods? They need consent.

Check your DOE website

[ahemmer01]

Until a few weeks ago, Missouri had no regulations and we were blown off by our DOE. MO now has regs (after a lot of advocating), but they aren't great and give the districts (the ones abusing this already) the power to monitor themselves. There is no accountability. FYI: In my son's case, it came down to him being perceived as a behavior child, not a child with a disability, and he was treated like he should know better, rather than being taught how and given support on how to get there.

[jmb171]

Ahemmer, I want you to know I have been on the other side of the IEP table. My niece was diagnosed last year, and my sister needed help understanding her rights as a parent.

I assure you, there are many of us who love these kids and are 100% accountable for their safety. We are specially trained to perform any hands on procedure. Body checks are done 2X a day by an RN to ensure there is no injury to the child.

If my niece was a danger to herself I'd feel confident in our methods

[ahemmer01]

I don't think special education is the enemy, though I have not had the best of luck with administrators. I know my rights, have my binders of research, my binders of documentation, etc. but all it came down to was did I want to take it to due process. We decided it wasn't worth the expense and stress on our family and now homeschool both boys. We worked with the system, fought against the system, etc. and none of it worked.

[ahemmer01]

I'm not saying there aren't great schools and great teachers, because I know there are. My son had a lot of people who were well meaning and/or wonderful teachers, but their hands were tied as well. Nurses are not involved in the seclusion room process at this school (at least not when we were there). Paraprofessionals with a 1/2 day of CPI training (focus on restraint) are allowed to do this in our district. Read more at: nomoseclusion[dot]blogspot[dot­]com/2009/01/zachs-story.[dot]­html

[jmb171]

Dear FUCKSPECIALEDUCATION,

Nice language. The one who yells the loudest doesn't necessarily win the argument. You make a BOLD blanket statement about children with special needs and their treatment in school.

Are you a teacher? Advocate? BCBA?What are your credentials and can you site specific examples of "North Korea" in our schools? To make such a statement, SURELY you have YEARS of experience and have worked with MANY children in a VARIETY of schools/special education classes.

[jmb171]

What was the behavioral definition they gave you for using this method? (ex. "Aggression defined by biting, hitting, spitting"). What was the criteria for the time out procedure to end? (ex. 1min absent of aggression).

In MA, and I hope everywhere... Only certified teachers can EVER put a hand on a child. Most common is CALM or CPI. Can you find out what they used and if they were certified?

**DID YOU EVER SIGN ANY CONSENT?*

This is the accountability part you speak of.

[jmb171]

We don't just "put our hands on children". Remember... LAST RESORT for the safety of the child. Gamiezion said, "they have a hard time understanding the world as it is". Very true. Which is why we use very intricate, detailed behavior plans to educate that child to communicate his or her needs, through words, sign, or pictures. Appropriate behavior is reinforced and is ALWAYS the #1 approach.

I would love your questions. I invite anyone to volunteer. See REALITY and not PERCEPTION.

[jmb171]

For those who disagree with this method... do the research. First of all, the staff I work with are all well educated in the field, trained in CPI restraint (look it up) and most important? We LOVE these children.

A month ago, a 15 yr old boy with autism was brought to us because he was biting, kicking, ABUSING his family. He was NOT learning in school, as his behaviors were too severe.

A month later, he is meeting his IEP objectives, visiting his family, and a happy 15 yr old.

DO RESEARCH

[jmb171]

Restraint and seclusion is a LAST resort. Typically used in residential settings for students who are a danger to themselves or others. The law in MA states that parents have to sign consent for such procedures. Check the regs in your state.

Your son is beautiful.  I have been in this field a long time, an no one is a bigger advocate than myself. However, if the school is using this method, He is aggressive to his peers, or teachers, or himself. If he is not, get him out of that school.

[jmb171]

Hmmm. I find it fascinating that I, a special education teacher with a master's degree and over 10+ years in the field, as well as a second masters degree in behavioral cognitive therapy for children with autism, asked you VERY specific and well informed questions... Yet, it appears as though my post was deleted. If I am wrong, I apologize. However, I suspect I am right, and you have a specific agenda, and do not want anyone with actual knowledge of the system to comment or educate posters..

[ahemmer01]

I did not delete anything, and my agenda is clear. This procedure and these rooms are being misused in many cases...it is not being used as a last resort and it is not being used for for serious safety issues. And for something like this that can be easily abused and endanger children and staff, the procedures that can cause death and significant injury should be banned and the rest should be regulated, monitored, and abusers held accountable. My chidren are no longer in public school.

[FuckSpecialEducation]

Parents listen up, if you want your child to have a good education, don't put them in special education classes, they will get the watered-down education. Not only that, they will go through Discrimination by their peers, body slam by their bully teachers and wind up in segregation. It will be like North Korea in special Ed nothing but isolation from world.

[ahemmer01]

For audio version and story, go here: nomoseclusion[dot]blogspot[dot­]com/2009/01/zachs-story[dot]h­tml

[PoliticallyCorrect0]

Restraints or seclusion are NOT bad they are much needed. People should be careful when dealing with small kids though..

[gamiezion]

restraint and seclusion is bad for any human (look up stories of people being put in solitary if you want)

its even worse for children with autism though as they dont understand whats going on

A) because theyre so young

B) they have a hard time understanding the world as it is

your comment is not only rude, but also very dumb and uninformed

[FuckSpecialEducation]

Bullshit, no teacher should ever put there hands on the students. If I found out my kids teacher was restraining and putting them in those prisons like rooms, I will sue the fuck out the teacher and the school.

[xlizzimon]

Just wondering, why would you send your younger son to the same school that your older son, Zach, suffered at? I think you should find a better school for your kids. Those rooms don't do anything but tramatize young people's minds and mess them up.

[ahemmer01]

fyi, we decided to pull the oldest out and not enroll the little guy into the school.

[Duvmasta]

:=(