Local Parents of Disability Advocacy Group ABLE NH Demand Review of Public School Seclusion & Restraint Laws

On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 4:30 p.m., at the New Hampshire Department of Education in Concord, two chapters of the disability advocacy group ABLE NH requested that the Special Education Advisory Committee (SAC) consider and propose goals for New Hampshire’s laws related to seclusion and restraint.

“New Hampshire’s law regulating the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools should be revisited immediately.  Children with disabilities are being secluded and restrained in New Hampshire public schools even though restraint has been proven to be dangerous and even deadly” explains Jennifer Bertrand, ABLE NH Southern Chapter founding member. “School districts struggle with this issue across the state and while incidences of seclusion and restraint may impact a small minority of New Hampshire’s school children, the potential for physical and emotional side effects on those children, and the staff that work with them, are very serious.  Restraint techniques have injured, traumatized, and even killed children.  Nationally, 8 to 10 children die each year because of restraint and our goal is to make sure the Granite state does not add to this alarming statistic.”

"Evidence-based data confirmed by the US Department of Education shows that seclusion and restraint practices do more harm to children than good," notes Deborah Opramolla, ABLE NH Jaffrey/Rindge Chapter Leader. “We are committed to creating a safe environment for all our children and the first step is to get SAC to thoughtfully consider the current law and explore a revision that will clarify the use of seclusion and restraint and as well as improve verbal parent notification.  It is awful that a child can be routinely secluded and that parents are not notified.”

According to The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH), “These are incredibly dangerous practices… there is growing evidence the developing brains of children are irreversibly damaged when they experience the “fight or flight” response brought on by a restraint or seclusion incident, particularly when it happens repeatedly.”   TASH also reports that, “More than two decades of peer-reviewed studies have provided strong evidence of positive alternatives for addressing even the most serious behavior challenges… Schools that utilize Positive Behavior Supports with fidelity rarely, if ever, have a need to restrain or seclude children.”  TASH states, “…ethics demand school administrators find restraint and seclusion practices unacceptable.”

At the SAC meeting, parents and a student detailed stories of New Hampshire children and youth who have been hurt by restraint or seclusion in the state’s public schools and asked the committee to make this issue a priority.  

ABLE NH advocates for the civil and human rights of all children and adults with disabilities and promotes full participation by improving systems of supports, connecting families, inspiring communities, and influencing public policy. To learn more about ABLE NH visit their web site at http://www.ablenh.org/.