CNN Story - Time Out - Seclusion Rooms - and greater atrocities

[Guest guest]

I cannot begin to say all the things that are wrong with this sort of

thing - time out rooms, etc. It is a loud cry for infusion of Positive

Behavior Supports, effective visual supports, and communication

partnering and communication supports. ....and common sense, I fear.

I think many of us have children who have experienced something

similar, either by formal policy of time out rooms or by inept staff

as is the case with my son.

Are you all aware there is a school in MA that uses electroshock

therapy? Friends of mine have tried to have it closed a number of

times - when they got too close to success, the director, Dr. Israel

successfully got them all fired and worked away at their credentials.

A number of these individuals are now among my closest friends and are

keen advocates for quality living for all (many came through Oregon

and helped close our institution). It is called the Judge Rotenberg

Center. In this photo, from their website, you see three lovely

looking young men in front of a lovely building:

http://www.judgerc.org/images/PhotoTour/oldmapleext.jpg . Note the

backpack on the one young man. That is his shocker pack. If he is seen

on any of the monitors doing something " wrong, " he is shocked. If his

steachers or assistance do not like his behavior, he is shocked. If he

swears, he is shocked.

In a recent flurry of action to close JRC, a story emerged of a two

young men being shocked in excess of 70 times because an ex-student

called in a prank.

Mother Magazine did a couple of stories - here is a photo essay.

Keep in mind, these are taken with teh JRC's permission!

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/school_of_shock_photo_essay_1.ht\

ml?welcome=true

These stories break my heart. Be forewarned that schools who use

inclusive practices also use time out rooms and practices for behavior

they do not understand or know how to " control. " Education systems

tend to be compliance based rather than support based unless cornered

into doing the right thing. It's not malicious. They don't know better.

Because the JRC was successful in the legal system, legislation is now

the only way to close it. Regardless of the horrors that go on there.

These students have multiple disabilities - not just autism. STudents

with out autism end up in seclusion rooms too. I would advocate for

any legislation written to include ALL children - regardless of

disability - not to be subjected to such horrors. This is inhuman

behavior for ANYONE. Any effort MUST be a consortium of groups to

protect ALL children and promote the use of positive behavior

approaches for all.

If we use inclusive practices - including PBIS - and follow the intent

of IDEA, in which a student is supported through modifications and

accommodations and PBIS strategies, time out rooms are used less and

less, leaving time for people to focus on students who have mental

health and other concerns that are more complex.

It's rough to watch and a far cry from what is typically seen in the

Down Syndrome community, but we are not exempt.

I cringe to think of how many atrocities truly exist.

Joan