Is the use of Seclusion rooms and restraint appropriate...

Is the use of Seclusion rooms and restraint appropriate for children on IEP’s in public education schools when used appropriately and within the laws set forth to govern them? Seclusion and restraint has been a controversial topic in special education for a long time. Recently there has been more talk over the use of seclusion rooms and restraint on violent children in the public education setting. Many advocates feel that the use of such practices is unjust and unethical, that it violates the fourteenth amendment, and that it puts students at risk for injury or harm. Others however feel that such practices are necessary in certain circumstances. That when a child is causing harm to themselves or others, the use of a seclusion†¦show more content†¦It was very traumatizing for him as he does not like to be touched by others. In this case we wrote it into his IEP that the safe room would be used as a strategy to get him to safe place when he is being harmful to himself or others. We place him in the safe room and he is able to calm himself down at an exponential rate compared to when we had to restrain him physically. This is an example of when a safe room is used appropriately and to the benefit of this child. Though we do not touch him physically we take all precautions necessary. There is a scribe writing everything the child and the teacher in charge says while in the safe room. The adult in charge has one hand on the handle of the door at all times and has the child in eye view at all times. Once the child is calm, they are given the choice to remain in the safe room for a few minutes longer with the door open, or they may come out and process with the adult. These are all necessary steps that are taken by me and my staff to ensure that the child’s safety and well being are taken care of as well as the safety of the others in the classroom. Education on the crucial steps and processes of safely using seclusion and restraint is so important. This is why I am so drawn to this topic. With all the controversies surrounding seclusion rooms and the threat of banning them, I feel this controversy needs to be ad dressed more.