Children Need YOUR Help!
Help The Arc Stop the Practice of Illegally Restraining or Secluding Children with Special Needs!
February 17, 2010
A recent report from Disability Rights Network (NC) studied the disciplinary method of using restraint and seclusion with children. Please take a few moments to read the report from Disability Rights. Following that, The Arc of Cabarrus asks you to follow the link to The Arc of the United States' website and contact your congressman or senator to encourage them to co-sponsor the bill that would prohibit these practices. For the safety and well-being of ALL our children, please take a stand and act now!
Take a Stand NOW!
Co-Sponsors needed for new federal legislation.
On December 9, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act was introduced into the House & Senate. These bills would prevent and reduce inappropriate restraint and seclusion by establishing minimum safety standards in schools, similar to protections already in place in hospitals and non-medical community-based facilities.
The historic legislation was prompted by a government report that found "hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death related to the use of these methods on school children during the past two decades. Examples of these cases include a 7 year old purportedly dying after being held face down for hours by school staff, 5 year olds allegedly being tied to chairs with bungee cords and duct tape by their teacher and suffering broken arms and bloody noses, and a 13 year old reportedly hanging himself in a seclusion room after prolonged confinement."
These abusive practices were used disproportionately on children with disabilities, including children diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities.
We need your help in getting co-sponsors for the bills,
especially Republican co-sponsors!
Schedule a visit to your district office
Make telephone calls to the district office
Email your Congressman and Senators
Follow this link http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=14475811 and click on the "Take Action" link and enter your zip code. We encourage you to add any information about yourself and your personal interest in the problem of seclusion and restraint of children in school.
If your Representative or Senators express interest in the bill or agree to become a co-sponsor, please let us know so staff can follow up with them. Email Maureen Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@ucp.org.
For the Children!