Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint
Articles
Bridge Michigan article by Isabel Lohman
Michigan failed to curb 'seclusion and restraint.' One school tries again.
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Michigan schools still secluding and restraining students with disabilities at high rates despite 2016 law
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One school district is beginning to police itself, and advocates say others should follow
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State lawmakers, officials acknowledge need for more reform
HAZEL PARK — As Michigan schools continue to seclude and restrain students with disabilities at high rates, despite a state law designed to limit the controversial practice, one local school district is beginning to police itself.
The Hazel Park school board last week approved a plan that aims to curb seclusion and restraint in the district’s special education school by 30%, boosting training and oversight as part of what an advocate called a "pretty unique" approach to techniques the state had tried — but so far failed — to curb.
“Every school that is using seclusion and restraint should have a plan like this in place," said Cassie Atallah, co-leader and co-founder of the Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint. "This is simply complying with the law."
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From Bridge Michigan
Article by Cassie Jo Krause Atallah
We Need to Listen
We need to listen when our teachers tell us that the techniques that they have access to are inadequate and the support systems are insufficient to help prevent verbal aggression, threats, and even unsafe behavior. Many (40% of) teachers report serious worry about being physical injured by a student. Of course there is a teacher and paraprofessional shortage in Michigan when our educators feel this way!
From Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint (EndSaR)
Series by Jennifer Abbanat
An Avoidable Crisis
The Focus on Compliance (Part 1)
We hear from so many parents, caregivers, and teachers how “out of control” so many kids they work with are. They describe them as rude, disrespectful, disruptive, always touching things, and one of my favorites, can’t sit still. But what makes “these kids” so terrible?
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The Unlucky Ones (Part 2)
Dr. Ross Greene refers to kids with “lucky behaviors” and those with” unlucky behaviors.” Kids with lucky behaviors are often more capable of “using words” to describe their feelings. These kids often pout, cry, whine, withdraw, and these lucky behaviors usually get them empathy from the caregiver. This is why they are thought of as “lucky behaviors.”
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The Keeping All Students Safe Act (Part 3)
The research and evidence are clear. We know better, so we must pass laws that will keep all students safe by banning these harmful practices with zero therapeutic value and are clearly dangerous. They should not even be an option that adults can use against other individuals.
From Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
From Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
From Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
Article by Brian Della Mura
A Teacher on a Mission
I’m a special educator with over ten years of experience working in self-contained alternative classrooms in Arizona and Vermont. When I began my career, I was a teacher who restrained and secluded young children. I was a teacher who couldn’t have done anything differently because I lacked skills.
From Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
