wrightslaw - NY aversion interventions

July 19, 2006

The following was in my wrightslaw newsletter. Those in NY take note. I can

see how a child with communication issues could be hurt by these interventions.

Cindy

Mom to 3 girls 9 (n24 4/00 freedom 10/05)

1. Call to Action! New York Allows Schools to Use Aversive Interventions on

Children ... Including Electric Shock

In June, the New York Board of Regents approved " emergency regulations " that

permit all public schools to use aversive behavioral interventions and time-out

rooms as consequences for behavior of disabled students. These regulations went

into effect on June 23, 2006.

What are " aversive behavioral interventions " ?

According to the New York regulations, " aversive behavioral interventions means:

* noxious, painful, intrusive stimuli or activities intended to induce pain such

as electric skin shock, ice applications, hitting, slapping, pinching, kicking,

hurling, strangling, shoving, deep muscle squeezes

* noxious, painful or intrusive spray, inhalant or tastes

* withholding sleep, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities or clothing;

withholding meals, limiting essential nutrition or hydration

* movement limitation used as a punishment, including but not limited to helmets

and mechanical restraint devices

* placing a child unsupervised or unobserved in a room from which the student

cannot exit without assistance

That's not all. The NY state department of education described " requirements for

staff supervision " and the need for " Humane and Dignified Treatment of the

Student. " Humane, dignified state sanctioned child abuse?

The fact that these regulations were enacted on an " emergency " basis, with no

public hearings or public comment, may be good news for parents. This gives

parents and child advocates some time to plan and implement a strategy to

persuade the policy-makers that these regulations are - inhumane.

If you are the parent of a child with a disability and live in New York, you

have work to do. Call to Action includes a detailed list of things to do.

Call to Action: New York Regs Allow Schools to Use " Aversive Interventions " on

Children, Including Electric Shock is available at

To learn more about these issues, download free publications, read cases, and

contact advocacy groups, please go to Restraints, Physical and Sexual Abuse in

Recommended Posts