SENATOR SCOTT BROWN VISITS R.I.

U.S. SENATOR SCOTT BROWN EXPERIENCED ABUSE AS A CHILD,
HOW WILL HE PROTECT OUR NATIONS CHILDREN FROM ABUSE TODAY?



Irwin and Dakota Jacobowitz visiting with U.S. Senator Scott Brown.

On March 5, 2011, U.S. Senator Scott Brown visited Rhode Island to promote his book,
"Against All Odds." Sen. Brown was elected on January 19, 2010 by the people of Massachusetts, to fill the term of the late senator Ted Kennedy. He lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts, with his wife, Gail, and their two daughters, Ayala and Ariana.

Senator Brown's book, "Against All Odds", is an example of resilience and redemption. He tells the story of his difficult, nomadic childhood with a life contrived of alcohol, anger, and violence. He discusses being fondled by a camp counselor when he was 10 years old. Senator Brown did not believe that his greatest win occurred on January 19, 2010 when he captured the U.S. Senate seat held by former U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy for nearly 50 years, but when he survived a savage beating by his drunk stepfather when he was six years old, while trying to protect his mother.

Looking at his life in retrospect, Sen. Brown said, "I can honestly say that there isn't one thing that I would change: not the arrest, not the violence, not the hunger, not the beatings and the brute struggles. I wouldn't change any of it, because those years and that life made me the man I am today."

At the book signing, Senator Scott Brown did not speak much about how he plan to use his past experiences to address the issues of child abuse in our nation today an dhis views on the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act. RI families Against Restraint will meet with U.S. Senator Brown in the near future to discuss these important issues plaguing our nation's children.

UPDATE! NEW BEDFORD TRIAL RESCHEDULED! NEW DATE- MARCH 23, 2011. COME OUT AND VOICE YOUR OPINION!

PARENTS AWAITING TRIAL FOR 3 YEARS, FOR REFUSING TO RESTRAIN SON!

Parents refused to allow their son, diagnosed with autism, to be restrained on a school van as a first resort. The Dartmouth Public School Department failed to provide an experienced aide to accompany the child to school, because it cost $. After the parents complained to the Bureau of special Education (BSEA) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in Boston, MA., the school's superintendant, Stephen Russell, had the parents arrested on false charges-resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, in front of their children and school staff. To date, Dartmouth's Personnel- Superintendent Stephen Russell, Special Education Director Linda Maniglia, Principal Lorraine Granda, Vice principal Richard Porter III, Wendy Weidenfeller- has not spoken about the incident, but were subpoenaed by the defense to testify in the case on March 23, 2011.

The trial was ready to go on February 24, 2011, but calls started to pour into the Bristol County District Attorney's Office and attorneys Kristine Hammond's and Stephen Dalrymple's offices (attorneys for the Parents)from the State's witnesses (Dartmouth Public School employees). The witnesses stated that they were on vacation and would not be in court on February 24, 2011. The case was rescheduled on several occasions before due to the State's witnesses not being able to appear, because they had to run a school. The defense will seek warrants if state witnesses do not appear for trial on March 23, 2011.

It is important to preserve a Parent's right to say "NO" to restraints, Seclusion, and Abuse.

Advocacy groups, Opponents of unneccesary and inappropriate use of restraints and seclusion, Parents, grandparents, concerned individuals will voice their opinion about the use of restraints, seclusion, and abuse in our schools outside the court house on March 23,2011.Posters and Pictures of children restrained and abused will be displayed. Pictures of children that died due to restraints and abuse in schools will also be displayed.

COME OUT ON MARCH 23, 2011 TO THE THIRD DISTRICT COURT HOUSE IN NEW BEDFORD, MA.- Show your support, Voice your opinion, Remember the children that died, and Help prevent more children from dying.

SCHOOL LOBBIED TO STOP ELECTRIC SHOCK BAN

Canton facility spent $100,000 on effort



One of two video monitoring rooms at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton. Live camera feeds throughout the facility can be viewed, including activity in restrooms. (John Tlumacki/ Globe Staff/ File)

By Donovan Slack

Globe Staff / February 28, 2011

WASHINGTON — The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, a special-needs school in Canton that disciplines students with electric shocks, used a sophisticated lobbying campaign in Congress last year to help defeat a ban of its controversial techniques, according to recently released public documents.

Although the center declined to discuss its strategy for 2011, the legislative battle is expected to be rekindled this year.

The center, the only school in the country that uses electric shocks to modify behavior, launched its Capitol Hill campaign after the House approved a measure last year outlawing the use of restraints and some other devices to control students. The bill did not explicitly reference shock devices, but lawmakers said the ban would have applied to the Judge Rotenberg Center’s practices.

Critics say the electric shocks — which are the subject of ongoing state and federal investigations — are inhumane. But school officials and parents say they are necessary, a last resort to prevent severely disabled children and teens from harming themselves or others.

The center paid $100,000 last year to a law firm headed by former GOP presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani in a successful effort to help stifle the measure in the Senate, according to 2010 lobbying disclosure records released in January. The bill died in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

As part of the campaign, it transported parents and students to the Capitol to argue the point in private meetings with senators and staff. The parents told lawmakers that their children would be dead or institutionalized without the center and its unorthodox methods, said Edward D. Krenik, a top Washington lobbyist who led the campaign. “They have a pretty powerful story,’’ he said. “There were folks that were visibly moved.’’

(See Story section for full story)

IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD SECLUSION ROOMS, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD COMFORT OR SENSORY ROOMS

The practice of restraint and seclusion presents a very serious health and safety risk to all students, and is most often used to control behavior of young students with disabilities and noncompliance issues. Restraints should only be used as a very last resort and when behavior poses an imminent danger and substantial risk of physical injury to the student or others. Protections for students are long overdue. Each day we delay, school children are traumatized, injured, and killed.

Seclusion/Solitary Confinement should NEVER be used on children with disabilities. If School Districts have the money to build seclusion rooms, they should have the money to build comfort or sensory rooms to help our children when they become overwhelmed. Our children are not criminals and do not deserve to be locked up in seclusion/solitary confinement rooms.

APRAIS plans to hire experienced federal education legislation to help educate Congressional members and work toward passage of a strong bill. Please help "Families Against Restraint and Seclusion" by supporting our cause to stop restraint, seclusion and aversive treatments used on our children by making a contribution of $10 (or more if you can). TASH will act as the fiscal agent, and donations can be made out to "TASH" for "Restraint and Seclusion Advocacy" at http://www.tash.org/index.html (Go to the top right side of the screen for information). Please identify yourself as a parent advocate (next to your name) when making your donation.

PLEASE help stop the unnecessary use of restraint and seclusion used on our children with disabilities in the public school system by supporting our cause. Our children are counting on us to keep them safe.

Please email us back if you have any questions or concerns and please pass this on to other parent advocates and others who would like to support this cause.

Regards,

Rhode Island Families Against Restraint and Seclusion
http://RIfamiliesagainstrestraintandseclusion.blogspot.com/

SOMETIMES A VIDEO SAYS IT ALL!

FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN, THE HEROES, WHOSE LIVES FELL SHORT, WHOSE LIVES WERE FILLED WITH PAIN BY RESTRAINT, SECLUSION, AND ABUSE TELL THEIR STORIES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnTHmjpaT1s

(See M.A.D section for direct link to site)

AKRON MOM, PENNSYLVANIA DAD, JAILED FOR 10 DAYS FOR WANTING A BETTER EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN- Parents Learn That Wanting A Quality Education Cost

American Courts Are Sending The Wrong Message About Disparity In The United States Education System- “SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL” is O.K.

Let’s take a step back in time to remember the infamous case “Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka”, now let’s fast forward to the present, the cases of Summit County v. Kelley Williams-Bolar and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Irwin Jacobowitz.

Outrage pours out over courts, schools, administrators, and educators punishment of parents who seek a better quality education for their children. No longer is race the leading factor separating children from a quality education, it is their parent’s financial status, parent’s tax bracket, the neighborhood in which they live, and who they know. Don’t jail the parents for wanting a better education for their children, jail school officials for not providing one-“POOR CHILD LEFT BEHIND.”

Many in affluent neighborhoods may applaud the latest Summit County court decision, but overall the lack of education or a poor quality education for our youngest citizens in our country destroys the economy. Summit County Judge, Patricia Cosgrove, sentenced Akron mom, Kelley Williams-Bolar, to 10 days in jail on felony charges after she was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 5 years in prison (two terms). Ms. Williams-Bolar was convicted on record tampering so that her children could attend Copley-Fairlawn Schools. The Copley-Fairlawn School district maintained that the mom lied on affidavits by swearing that her two children lived at her father’s address. Her father lived in the school district and paid school taxes. The district spent $6,000. of tax payer dollars for a private investigator to follow Ms. Williams-Bolar.

Dad, Irwin Jacobowitz, is too familiar with Ms. Williams-Bolar’s situation, he too was sentenced to 10 days in jail in Chester County Pennsylvania in 2007. Mr. Jacobowitz was thrown in prison in Pennsylvania for 10 days for advocating for his son, diagnosed with autism, to receive an appropriate education without being restrained in school. After serving the 10 days in prison, Mr. Jacobowitz was marched into court with shackles on his ankles and wrists, in front of school officials, his wife, and three children aged 8, 6, and 4.

In response to America’s failing schools, the American public has expressed its’ discontent for legal cases that punishes parents who advocate for a better quality of education for their children. Education reform centers on the existence of better quality schools. On January 25, 2011, President Obama spoke about restoring the nation’s schools to a position of prominence and excellence. How long can our children wait?

PARENTS ON TRIAL FEBRUARY 24, 2011 IN NEW BEDFORD DISTRICT COURT IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR REFUSING TO ALLOW DARTMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO RESTRAIN SON

DARTMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE DARTMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE NEW BEDFORD DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (DCYF) COLLABORATIVELY FRAMED PARENTS OF THREE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

How Far Will A School District Go To Rid Themselves of Parents That Strongly Advocate For Their Child(ren)?

They will have them falsely sent to jail and have their child(ren) taken away!!!!!

The Parents of 3 special needs children, diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS) will go to trial on February 24, 2011 at the New Bedford District Court on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

On October 17, 2008,the next day after Irwin Jacobowitz and the special education director, Linda Maniglia, of Dartmouth Public Schools had words over the district's refusal to provide appropriate transportation for his son, Arizona, he and his wife, Pearl H. Jacobowitz, a former student at The Southern New England School of Law (UMASS-Dartmouth School of Law), were arrested shortly after arriving at James M. Quinn Elementary School.

An ongoing dispute over Dartmouth's refusal to provide an experienced one-to-one aide on the school bus ride to South Coast Educational Collaborative (SCEC)in Swansea, Ma. led the parents to file complaints with the OCR in Ma. and Washington, D.C., the Bureau of Special Education Appeals(BSEA), the office of the Child Advocate, and Michelle Obama.

The parents are represented by attorneys Kristine Hammond of New Bedford, MA. and Stephen Dalrymple of North Smithfield, RI. The Bristol County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting the case. The State's witnesses are officer Sean McGuire, officer Kyle Costa, Dartmouth's Superintendant Stephen Russell, Special education director Linda Maniglia, Principal Lorraine Granda, Vice Principal Richard Porter III, and Wendy Weinfelder.

The Parents believe that the case is significant, because Parents should not be forced to restrain their child on a school bus or anywhere else if they choose not to and it is important to send amessage to schools that retaliation against parents and advocates will not be tolerated.

The trial will be held on February 17, 2011 at 9:00 A.M. in the New Bedford District Court in MA.

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