This site was developed by parents and for parents in response to repeated requests for a practical guide to keeping our school children safe from restraint, seclusion and other aversive practices.
We hope that this site will lead you in a direction
to better advocate for your child's safety.
While this problem is most acute among children with disabilities, it has the potential to affect ALL students, directly or indirectly, and one that all parents should know and care about.
Aversive interventions, restraint, and seclusion carry no therapeutic value. So why is it being used on children?
A Wilmington, NC family filed a Civil Rights (OCR) complaint January 25th with the US Department of Education. The complaint charges that the county schools discriminate against all children with disabilities because the seclusion rooms are only used for children with a disability.
The entire redacted copy of the Complaint can be found by clicking here
Other media sources covering this story are, The Star News, WECT, WWAY
At an elementary school in Connecticut the "time-out room" isn't a room, but a closet. It has been confirmed that custodians periodically clean blood and urine off the concrete walls left behind by terrified students placed in the room. The students call the room the "Scream Room."
President Wilma Thomas states in this video that is an "appropriate method of restraint" to lock a 9 year old special-ed child in a duffel bag. Thomas expresses anger and wounded sensibilities at the news coverage and the parent who reported the abuse as she urges the school board not to allow the school to be the target of "disrespect" or "rumor." This goes to show that disabled students are subjected to different standards than their typical peers. Her response is not uncommon: only actual humans and cute pets deserve respect you understand. Watch the video.
Ms. Wilma Thomas' email is wilma.thomas@mercer.kyschools.us