Report Details Abuse of Students with Disabilities

Report Documents That Our Special Needs Kids Are Not Safe At School

I am renaming autism the “Onion Disorder” because it really is like an onion. Everyday, every challenge and every lesson is like a layer of an onion. The layers are tearfully peeled back one at a time. Today, another painful layer as we learn that schools are not safe for our kids.

On January 13, the National Disability Rights Network unveiled an alarming national report on seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools. The report shows use of seclusion and restraint tactics that result in physical and emotional injuries as well as death, in schools affecting students from grades K-12. The report documents cases of children tied up, put in box’s, hit, pinned down, ostracized and subjected to various other cruel treatment. NDRN reports that problem lies in a patchwork of laws, regulations and guidelines nationwide. Their finding show 41% of schools have no laws, policies or guidelines concerning restraint or seclusion use in schools: almost 90% still allow prone restraints, and only 45% require or recommend that schools automatically notify parents or guardians of restraint/seclusion use.

I found the entire report on ndrn.org

Now I have the seed planted in my mind that our kids can be killed at school because they lack the policies, laws and procedures it takes to insure their safety. So, what now? I will go to Nicky’s school, I will show the assistant principal this report and I will politely and kindly ask him “May I see your written policy on seclusion and restraint?”. If he tells me he does not have one I will give him a copy of this report and ask him to look into creating a staff policy so that they can be a school that boasts of having addressed this issue. Then he can post this report along with a response from our school administrators. I am sure I will come up with more idea’s and I’ll share them and their results. Bottom line, if you were not already advocating for this type of safety in your schools, now may be the time.