Re: Take Action PLEASE URGE GOVERNOR TO SIGN RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION BILL

[Guest guest]

The reason for most opposition of this bill is not that it does not go far enough. The argument by many is that it will cause more harm than good. Currently, district policies provide more protections than this bill. Once the bill becomes law, protections will lessen. The school district's own employee, Pinkus stated so. I posted the article here.There is nothing this law provides that parents don't already have. For example, -a law already exists that requires seclusion rooms to meet fire marshal code. Reiteration of this law is not necessary. Instead, we need enforcement.-Most parents already believes that impeding a child's breathing is illegal. Even if you accept that this is necessary- where are the definitions? Can anyone

name one restraint that will impede breathing? are we asking school personnel to act as doctors? I am sure by now everyone is aware of the child who begged that he could not breathe , we all know he is no longer with us. I am well aware of training in Broward which specifically teaches teachers/staff that "if a child can speak they are breathing." So I ask, how does this language provide anything other than more vague unenforceable language?I am not aware of any parents jumping for joy that a light will be on when a child has been locked in a room for hours at a time. For that is all the bill provides, a light when placing a child in a seclusion room. Some common sense protections may be- limiting time, WHEN it may be used, monitoring to ensure safety. Don't get me wrong, I am totally opposed the archaic use of seclusion rooms but if you are going to address it, at least do something that may protect the child. A light just doesn't cut

it.Most districts already provide notice to parents. FERPA certainly does. The notice in this bill only provides that parents receive it 3 days after the fact. Then I have to ask, what good is notice if parents can't do anything. Are there protections and procedures for parents to follow if they believe their child is being abused and kept in a room for hours each day?The behavioral supports I have heard of are for child care facilities-correct me if I am wrong. Also, we already have federal laws that require schools to provide evidence based behavior practices anyways. The problem is most don't or don't do it effectively and instead may use restraint and seclusion as treatment. Restraint and Seclusion are governed by federal and state laws to protect disabled individuals. There is no reason schools should not be under the same standards as other settings. If anything, children need more protections in school since there is no

trained medical staff. Many see prone restraint, supine restraint and solitary confinement as human rights violations. This is especially true when not used in an imminent harm scenario. our own government (SAMHSA) formed an agency with the sole purpose to end these practices. It's about time schools catch up. Children are at more risk of harm than adults.I hope Crist vetoes the bill as I completely believe it will cause more harm than good.However, it is unlikely he will. There is no guarantee that it can be amended. That is just a hope. Just having a bill when there was none is not going to protect children if it does not have the proper legal language and guidelines.And I am debating the issue not the person.Subject: Take Action PLEASE URGE GOVERNOR TO SIGN RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION BILLTo: "Sylvia " , fndbroward@..., benito@..., shhoaglund@..., allenbellman@..., fvddorg@..., kabot@..., sharon.boyd@..., dlinton@..., alfern27@..., anns@..., fred@..., cvm514@..., bobwessels@..., malessandri@..., apontemb@..., urenabled@..., dhaas@..., bonnie_florom@..., eileenr414@..., swimkathy1@..., drjackscott@..., jack@..., marzullim@..., parkerr@..., vsequenzia@..., lbprado@..., annsmi@..., cswilley@..., deniseslist , mary@..., mprehab@..., bkanjian@..., thepuzzleplace@...,

jmerens@..., cardresource@..., jssewell@..., jeanc@..., hooper.meg@...Date: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 8:54 AM

Although many think this bill does not go far enough, it is a start.Among other things, it requires reporting of restraint and seclusion of ESE students within 24 hours, prevents restriction of breathing and prohibits seclusion in closets or other unsafe areas. I understand that parents are against ALL restraint and seclusion, but this bill opens the door, sheds light on this subject, notifies parents of these egregious practices and gives us an opportunity to strengthen it next year. Click here to advance this bill. K. Goldstein Goldstein Consulting, IncEducation - Health & Human Services - State & Local Government - Business