The Wrightslaw Way

by Tricia and Calvin Luker, www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com Earlier this year, Congressman George Miller introduced and championed the “Keeping All Students Safe Act” in the House of Representatives. Miller’s bill took substantial steps to eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion in our schools. The bill passed and was sent to the Senate. The Senate version of […]

In their article, Eye on the Prize: Keeping All Children Safe, Tricia and Calvin Luker, from Our Children Left Behind, provide a summary of the provisions passed by the House in The Keeping All Students Safe Act. You’ll find a status report on the bill introduced in the Senate, information from significant informal discussions, links […]

On Tuesday, July 13, we received the text of an article, “Preventing Harmful Restraint/Seclusion in Schools Act” by Jess Butler, Esq.  Jess is the Congressional Affairs Coordinator for the Autism National Committee (www.autcom.org), was previously Chair of the Board of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and co-chaired its Congressional Affairs efforts. We published […]

Call your Senators and ask them to pass S.2860, the restraint/seclusion bill as it passed the House.  Dial 202-224-3121 or go to http://www.senate.gov, click on Senators for contact information (including local numbers).  Ask for your Senator’s Education Aide or HELP Committee aide, and leave a detailed voicemail message if they are unavailable. (More contact details […]

The House Committee on Education and Labor will mark up the Congressional restraint/seclusion bill this Thursday, February 4.  During mark-up, the Congressional Committee will consider the bill and any proposed changes, and vote on a bill to send to the House Floor. Live Webcast: If you would like to hear the discussion about the bill, […]

Today is the day! Thursday, January 21st, tell your members of Congress to support the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247/S.2860) introduced last month by Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) and by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). This legislation would provide students with and without disabilities vital protections against […]

A Wisconsin school district has decided to use federal stimulus dollars to construct “seclusion areas” in its schools.  The decision is opposed by those working to end such practices for students with disabilities. The School Board voted in favor of using the funds for this purpose on December 14,  the vote coming just after Congressman […]

A 14-year old student in a special education classroom in Texas, Cedric lived with a foster family because of a history of neglect, including malnutrition. One day in 2002, his teacher tried to punish him by withholding food, despite the abuse he had suffered as a young child. Cedric’s teacher delayed his lunch for hours […]