Many of you who read my blog have children; many have special needs children. Here's what you probably don't know: across the country, children with special needs are legally allowed to be restrained in "time-out" type rooms. These children are locked away IN SCHOOL with no way out, and NO SUPERVISION!!! Many of these children have health concerns that make that very unsafe, not to mention the fact that it is legalized torture. Imagine your child. You send them to school to receive an education, to grow emotionally and intellectually. Now picture your child locked in a room all alone, nobody caring that they might be screaming for help, nobody to know if they are having a seizure, they might even be forgotten and left there all day. Is that what you would want for your child (special needs or not!)?
Melanie Hollis is running as a WRITE-IN candidate for Tennessee state senate (District 23), because she WILL NOT STAND for this type of legalized abuse. Melanie is the mother of 5 children (2 DS and 1 FAS). She has a humungous heart, and I promise you she has the ability to do the people justice as senator (after all she relies entirely on God, and let's face it there is nothing too hard for Him). I don't live in Tennessee, so I can't vote for her (promise, I would if I could, Melanie :). But if you do, or know someone who does, PLEASE WRITE IN MELANIE HOLLIS on November 2nd.
Below are a few links to some of her YouTube clips (2-5 minutes a piece...really worth your time) and a link for her blog.
Read THIS if you want to see an interview with a mother whose daughter was restrained this way.
Read THIS and THIS to know more about why Melanie is running (and about the proposed bill for this method of restraint)
5 comments:
I am going to be honest, I did not watch the youtube videos, but what other options are there for a child who is harmful to themselves or others? They should only be intervened with in this way if that is the case, and if so, they should not be locked in a room alone ever. They should be continuously monitored until they have calmed down somewhat, and have ceased being violent, and can be talked to and are more likely to respond to verbal redirection. And only specialized trained staff should even consider doing this.
Okay, I watched a video on youtube. I understand that these behaviors are a child attempting to communicate, but if they are harming themselves (headbanging on the floor) or others, what other option is there than to physically intervene to keep them from hurting themselves? Obviously there is a right way and a wrong way to do this, and it seemed like the videos were following the latter.
I am sorry I am spamming your blog, I have just been really curious about this topic and have been googling... what standard are schools held to, as far as restraints? I work in a hospital on a psychiatric unit where unfortunately they need to be done, and there is a very strict standard of use... only a nurse can initiate, a doctor needs to verbally talk to the nurse about it within the hour etcetc. However I am having trouble
( http://www.supportingsaferhealthcare.com/2009/02/restraint-and-seclusion-a-hot-topic-for-hospitals-html/ ) finding the set of standards for schools....
Erin, you are not "spamming" my blog :) Here is how I feel, as a mother AND a former educator. Public education is in a downward spiral. I can understand the need to restrain a child who is physically harmful, but there are some harsh realities in all of this: 1. The push for inclusion in classrooms, larger class sizes, and many poorly trained teachers (no fault of their own) has led to special needs children being placed in situations that they should never have to be in, with teachers who are not equipped to deal with their needs. 2. Special needs children are being singled out (do you honestly believe that "normal children" never act out in these ways? The bill is only for special needs children, though.) 3. IDEA mandates that special needs children are entitled to have their educational needs met through the public school systems (should this include being locked in a janitor's closet?). Many parents send their children to school with the belief that the schools are actually trained and equipped to meet these aforementioned needs (imagine that :)
PS: Erin, my previous comment is NOT an attack on you! I think it's great that you are interested in this, please take none of this personally. I'm so glad you felt compelled to make your comments :) Thank you!
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