PADDED CELL?

PADDED CELL?
National Disability Rights Network Report- School Is Not Supposed to Hurt

SECLUSION ROOM OR QUIET ROOM?

SECLUSION ROOM OR QUIET ROOM?
EAST GOSHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA

TO BE PRONE OR NOT TO BE PRONE? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

TO BE PRONE OR NOT TO BE PRONE? THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Abbie was Restrained 14 times in one day for noncompliance issues

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION COST TOO MUCH! RESTRAIN HIM IN THE RIFTON CHAIR INSTEAD.

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION COST TOO MUCH! RESTRAIN HIM IN THE RIFTON CHAIR INSTEAD.
CCIU/EAST BRADFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WEST CHESTER, PA.

QUIET ROOM OR CELL?

QUIET ROOM OR CELL?
NAA: The Restraint and Prevention Symposium

ABUSE IS ABUSE, REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS

ABUSE IS ABUSE, REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS
Man Arrested For Abusing His Autistic Son

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND FAMILIES AGAINST RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION

The abuse of children at the hands of school personnel has risen over the last two decades and the nation is outraged. The children most likely to be abused are children with disabilities. Children who are poor and homeless are not excluded from the abuse.

The abuse presents itself in various forms -restraints, seclusion, suffocation, and sometimes even death. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused and some have died as a result of the misuses of restraints and seclusion in public and private schools, often by untrained staff. United States representatives George Miller and Cathy McMorris Rodgers introduced the "Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in School Act" (HR 4247) and senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut introduced it's sister bill, (S. 2860). This legislation is the first national effort to address the problem and ensure the safety of students and school staff.

The abuse of a child in school can easily escalate into retaliation against the parent(s), caretaker(s), or advocate. Retaliation can include the denial educational services, the denial of a child to attend school, an illegal eviction from your residence, neglect and abuse charges filed against you by the school, a loss of employment, removal of the child from the caretaker by child protective services, false charges against the parent, caregiver, or advocate that can lead to an arrest, etc.

We must stop asking, "What are they (everyone else) going to do about the abuse of our nation's children?" While the rest of America sits blind, not necessarily their fault, they are under the assumption that their tax dollars are paying for an education without abuse, restraints, seclusion, or retaliation. American citizens believe that when they send their children to school, they will be safe, not abused or killed by school personnel.

It is our belief that all children are entitled to a free, appropriate, and SAFE education in the public and private school system, as specified under IDEA. We need your support in effecting change within the system.

Thank you!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

A CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL: WHERE HAVE ALL THE ADVOCATES GONE?



SHOULD WE HELP OR FURTHER PERSECUTE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

Last month, we received an email from Zoe Gross at ASAN, which focused on the death of George Hodgins. George Hodgins was a 22 year old male diagnosed with autism and regretably murdered by his mother on March 6, 2012. A candle light vigil was held for George Hodgins and others that fell to family violence.

Many community leaders were outraged that sympathy poured for George's mother ("the killer") and not for the victim due to his different abilities.

Zoe assisted in organizing a vigil for George and others, such as, Tracey Latimer, who was murdered by her father in 1993. Zoe expressed that Tracey's father was speaking on a television panel for the Canadian Global News, arguing for legalizing the killing of disabled people - in the name of "mercy." (ASAN)

Zoe expressed one sentiment that we wholeheartedly agree with, the murder of a person with a different ability does not weigh in as much as a person without one. If this is not correct, then think about this for a moment, how many school officials have been held accountable for abusing or murdering students via restraints or other forms of abuse. The answer is NOT MANY. Courts, administrative agencies allow them to murder and mame and then freely walk away. We also believe that people with different abilities should live a life free of violence.

It is important to memoralize those that has passed away due to violence, but to also try to find ways to prevent the violence. Parents of children with special needs find it very difficult at times to cope with the stress of finances, family, finding safe and appropriate educational facilities, health insurance, medical and psychological support, assistive services, etc. For example, in Rhode Island the Department of Human Services authorizes and funds an agency called CEDARR to provide Respite, PASS, and HBTS services to families. Through these services, parents are provided assistants to help them with their child(ren) with special needs, except there are obstacles: the workers are not experienced with children with autism, the parents have to wait month after month, the provider agency may not accept your child due to inappropriate behaviors or whatever reason they decide, the agency may be biased, etc. In one instance, CEDARR staff, reported parents to DCYF for not providing their child with appropriate HBTS and PASS services, but failed to tell DCYF that the agencies did not have workers available. It is difficult for parents to find attorneys or afford attorneys to represent their cases.

We can keep pointing fingers at the parents of children with special needs, but it would be more beneficial to assist them before it gets to violence. True advocates know the difficulty of advocating for services through the court system, state agencies, private agencie, schools, and so forth. Many advocates lobby congress. Well, you have many parents that do not have the knowledge to proceedm that's where advocates can help direct them. So, the next time we are ready to point our finger and blame the parent for not doing something "right", help them instead. It seems much easier to blame an individual, rather than an agency that failed to perform its' duties.

Both George and his mom were victims, they both needed help, but didn't receive it.

Advocates, we can help now!!!

In memory of George and the other fallen children,rather than assigning blame, let us focus on what we can do to assist parents acquire the services their children and family desperately needs.
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