Supreme Court: P & A Can Sue State to Protect Individuals with Disabilities

While investigating suspicious deaths in state institutions, the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) requested relevant records from state officials. Virginia refused, stating that a state-law privilege protected records Continue Reading →

Article being revised: “Preventing Harmful Restraint/Seclusion in Schools Act” –

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 Continue Reading →

9th Circuit Blocks Isolation Room Lawsuit

A Washington school placed D.P., an autistic child, in a locked isolation room pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that allowed him to be placed in a “safe room” Continue Reading →

Will the Senate Pass the Restraint & Seclusion Bill?

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 Continue Reading →

Congressional Committee Considers Restraint and Seclusion Bill

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 Continue Reading →

Congressional Committee Considers Restraint and Seclusion Bill

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 Continue Reading →

Today: National Call-In Day! Prevent Harmful Use of Restraint & Seclusion in Schools

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 Continue Reading →

Using Federal Stimulus $$$ to Construct Seclusion Areas

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 Continue Reading →

“Something is Very Wrong When Our Children Are at Risk in School”

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 Continue Reading →