The GAO has issued a sixty-two page report concerning the allegations of abusive use of restraints and seclusion. You can read the whole report here. There is also a one page summary available here. The widespread nature of the abuse of these techniques and the high incidence of injury and death of children with disabilities is very, very disturbing! This is a tough report to read, but the topic is obviously important.
The U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on the issue today. Here is the Committee's report on the issue. Representative Miller, the Chairman of the committee, referred to the testimony at the hearing and the GAO report as "very sad, very tragic," and he suggested that legislation might be needed to correct the widespread problem. Here is a news account. Here is a television news account.
I have heard from some educators that restraints are necessary sometimes to protect children with disabilities or other people, but most argue that such techniques should be used only as a last resort. I believe that training concerning these techniques and at least some limitations upon the more deadly methods will now be mandated by federal law. How do you folks feel about this topic?
http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/05/examining-the-abusive-and-dead.shtml
ReplyDeleteI don't see high priced lawyers falling all over themselves to represent these parents like they do for GITMO detainees. Why do we worry more about how we handle terrorist than we do innocent children. In fact, to be truthful, I suspect the terrorist have a better chance at having their day in court than do most families whose kids have disabilities. Just my two cents.
Amen to Jeremy....I tweeted these exact sentiments to George Miller yesterday!
ReplyDeleteIt is fine to sit on a committee, but until you understand fully what happens at the micro (school building) level, you'll never get it. The system doesn't protect kids, but insulates teachers and schools. District special education directors only have control of the CSE process...they are ineffective -- most times NOT by choice -- to assist in deciding 1)which staff actually implement the IEPs (building principals keep tenured teachers fixed in place). You heard one congressman compare this to the "Blue Wall of Silence" re: police forces, and he was right on!
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of a child with violent rages, I have seen restraint and seclusion used effectively for my son, IMO. I do check to be sure the monitors, teachers and others at his therapeutic school are trained in therapeutic restraint techniques, however, and they are only used when he is an immediate threat to himself and/or others. He has put staff in the emergency room - I can see where use is warranted, in some instances.
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ReplyDeleteThank you Jeremy, Anon1, Anon2 and Anon3,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments. Dialog on this topic will continue.
train more for understanding and specially designed instruction for social communcation deficits!
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