THANK GOD we’re finally talking about the abuse of kids with autism IN THEIR SCHOOLS
May 20, 2009
The government is finally doing something about the abuse of kids with autism in their schools! Yes, it is criminal! And, it has been going on for a very long time and in thousands of schools across the nation! Thousands of children have been abused IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS and BY OUR TEACHERS!
I walked into 1 public school on 1 day to have a tour of their so-called inclusion program. We were at Graham Hill elementary school which is part of the Seattle Public School District and we were touring with a Seattle Public School District special education personnel along with the special education teacher of the school. On that 1 day, in that 1 school, and in that 30 minute tour, we were witness to abuse right in front of us as if it were daily protocol and they were even proud of how well-trained they are and how well they handle “crisis” situations. It was appalling. I was in tears. I told the school district personnel that “over my dead body will my son ever step foot in one of their schools, ever”. He has attended a private school and we have paid $50,000 per year for his education. This is so far $100,000 of monies that the federal government (by way of the Seattle Public Schools and the State of Washington) owes my son. By law, he has the right to an appropriate education in the public schools - and these kids should not be subjected to abuse in order to obtain their education!
This is such a big issue for me. Obviously, I am pretty outspoken about this. And, obviously, I am thankful that I have been able to afford to NOT send him to school in the Seattle Public Schools. I will watch closely what happens in these hearings. Below are some links to the GAO report and the House hearings, etc.
Government Report Confirms Abusive Seclusion, Restraint
By Michelle Diament
May 19, 2009
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/05/19/gao-report/3288/
Thousands of children are secluded or restrained in America’s public and private schools each year, including hundreds of cases where the techniques are allegedly abusive or cause death, according to a report released Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Nearly all of the allegedly abusive cases involve children with disabilities, the report says.
To read GAO Report: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09719t.pdf
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104277070
from the Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
A brief roundup on issues related to Restraint, Seclusion, and other abusive techniques in school, including (1) COPAA’s report and ongoing survey, (2) the House hearings today, (3) a place on the House website to comment on restraint, seclusion, and abusive techniques in school, and (4) news reports.
1. COPAA will be updating its report, Unsafe in the Schoolhouse, http://www.copaa.org/news/unsafe.html and will use the information in advocating for stronger policies with Congress. We will continue to collect reports from members of the public. The survey form is here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kbizom_2bCU27wrYCCRv7R7w_3d_3d
Thanks again to everyone who has already contributed to the COPAA report. We urge folks to provide reports to us, even if you already provided the report personally to the GAO or to someone else. The report will be updated on a regular basis with the new reports.
2. The House Committee on Education and Labor held its hearings on restraint and seclusion today, “Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools.” The webcast of the hearing is here:
http://edwork.edgeboss.net/wmedia/edwork/fc/fc051909.wvx
We are grateful to Chairman Miller and the other members of the Committee for their leadership in shining a light on the pervasiveness of abusive practices in America’s schools, and for their actions to combat these practices. The GAO’s report, which notes COPAA’s report, is available here: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09719t.pdf COPAA also submitted a letter for the record for the hearings, which will be up on COPAA’s webpage soon, www.copaa.org
3. The Committee website contains a place for members of the public to post comments about the hearings or other issues involving abuse in school:
http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/05/news-of-the-day-gao-schools-re.shtml
Scroll down to the very bottom of the page.
4. There are many news reports thanks to the attention the House Committee and Chairman Miller have brought to this issue. They include a story on National Public Radio:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104277070
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/18/siu.schools.abuse/index.html
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-05-18-restraint-gao_N.htm
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