What You Can Do to Help Stop the Overuse and Unnecessary Use of Restraint and Seclusion In Your State

In order to create change, we must all band together to fight this as a group. We cannot do this alone. If you or someone you love has been restrained or placed in seclusion, or if you want the overuse and abuse of restraints and seclusions to stop, here are some things you can do:

1. Join our Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RESTRAINT_INFO/ to find information, support, and how you can sign up to be a state leader, co-leader, or helper.

2. Write a letter and try to obtain at least 6-8 signatures requesting State P & A's to open an investigation on public schools in regards to the over-use and unnecessary use of restraint and seclusion. Address the letter to the person in charge of your state P & A group.

3. If your child has been physically restrained in school, file written complaints with your state DOE about your situation in regards to your child being restrained or put in seclusion. This may not do much but at least it will be documented and on file. This will create a paper trail.

4. If your state does not have real policies, make a request to the DOE to create policies and procedures for all public schools in your state to follow. Make sure you request a monitor system be created as part of the policy.

5. If your state has policies in place and the schools are not following them, write a letter to the P & A's and your local legislators (copy the DOE) requesting their help in getting the DOE to follow the state policy.

6. Work with legislators to help you make the policies part of state statutes.

7. Contact the Media and share your story. If you are afraid of retaliation, there are a number of ways your identity can be protected.

8. Encourge parents to follow the tips for what to do if their child has been or is suspected to have been restrained or placed in seclusion at school.

9. Report abuse to your local Child Protection Agency if your child has been injured physically or mentally.

10. Encourage parents to follow these tips for what to do if their child has been or is suspected to have been restrained or placed in seclusion at school.

Please remember, if you do nothing then nothing will ever change.

If you need help with any of the above, contact us at familiesagainstrestraint@yahoo.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RESTRAINT_INFO.