Why do school districts continue to restrain and put children with disabilities in solitary confinement?

Why do school districts continue to restrain and put children with disabilities in solitary confinement and then try to convince the public that they only use this as a last resort or that it's therapeutic?

 

There is NOTHING therapeutic about restraint and seclusion and many school districts do not use this violent treatment as a last resort. 

 

How can any professional think that restraint and seclusion is calming and helpful to a child with a disability? 

 

Why do school districts not understand that many children use behaviors as a way to communicate and get someone's attention? 

 

Imagine that you cannot talk to get your needs and wants known so you act out to get attention and you are now held down by adults in a prone restraint unable to move or get up and tell me if this is helping you?

 

Imagine you are dragged to a small isolation room or box and the door closes and you are all alone crying and not understanding why someone is doing this to you. Now tell me if restraint and seclusion is something that you think would help you?

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Debunking the Myths of Restraint and Seclusion

https://www.aucd.org/docs/APRAIS%20myths%20and%20realities.pdf

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Preventing Restraint, Seclusion & Aversive Interventions

Every day, school children are at risk of restraint, seclusion and other aversive interventions that cause physical and emotional trauma, and even death. These harmful practices are used by adults entrusted with our children’s well-being, and often without the knowledge or consent of the parents, and they are used despite evidence of positive approaches that have been demonstrated in schools across the country in which physical coercion has been replaced by a positive culture of support. Federal protection against such practices is needed, but until such protections are afforded to every child in U.S. public schools, protecting children from restraint and seclusion is up to you!

Understanding the Effects of Trauma on the Lives of those we serve: Developing Trauma Informed Systems of Care - Restraint and seclusion are very dangerous practices with serious and long-lasting effects far beyond when the incident occurs. Through this session, we’ll dive deep into the long-term effects of trauma on the lives of people subjected to these practices, including what the research in mental health and child development tells us about enduring psychological harm caused by restraint and seclusion.

http://www.slideserve.com/gladys/understanding-the-effects-of-trauma-on-the-lives-of-those-we-serve-developing-trauma-informed-systems-of-care
 

Shouldn’t School Be Safe? Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Aversives, Restraint and Seclusion.

http://tash.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/TASH_Shouldnt-School-Be-Safe1.pdf
 

The Business Case for Reducing Restraint and Seclusion Use.

http://ddc.delaware.gov/pdf/2012/preventing_reducing_restraintseclusion_use_report_092012.pdf