TODAY April 13: National Call-In Day to Support Restraint & Seclusion Act Senate Bill 2860

[Guest guest]

----- Forwarded Message ----To: Undisclosed List Sent: Mon, April 12, 2010 9:22:20 PMSubject: FEDERAL BILL - National Call-In Day set for April 13 to Support Restraint & Seclusion Act Senate Bill 2860

Dear Advocates,

On March 3, 2010, the United States House of Representatives took a bold step forward and passed H.R. 4247, moving this legislation closer to becoming federal law. The next part of the process now rests in the hands of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee members. The cooperation of these individuals, along with the help of all Senators, is needed to move the bill’s counterpart, Senate Bill 2860, out of committee.

We are asking you to join us in a National Call-In Day on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, to tell your Senators to support the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, S.2860, introduced in December 2009 by Senator Dodd (D-CT). This legislation would provide students with and without disabilities vital protections against abuse in schools. Please inform your Senators about the importance of this legislation to the disability community and for health and safety all children, and ask for their support.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call this coming Tuesday April 13, 2010 and encourage your friends, family and coworkers to participate by contacting your U.S. Senators to support Senate Bill 2860.

To find out the names of your US Senators click here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Ask to speak to the person working on education issues

Identify yourself as a constituent and the organization that you represent (if any)

Message: “I am calling to urge (Senator) to support S.2860, legislation preventing harmful use of restraint and seclusion in schools.â€

If you have a R & S story to share let the person you are talking to know what happened to your child/grandson/granddaughter.

*****************************

Thank for your advocacy. Increasing Senate support for this bill will help move it one step closer to enactment. Please call on April 13, 2010, and tell your friends and family to join you. If you are interested in doing more, please e-mail us at info@... for information about how you can arrange a meeting with your representatives to explain why this bill is essential or visit www.tash.org/aprais to learn more.

Regards,

The APRAIS Coalition

http://aprais.tash.org/MemberOrganizations.htm

Restraint and seclusion should no longer be viewed as treatment options but rather as treatment failures because they risk lives, escalate behaviors and inflict emotional and physical trauma.