Families for Restraint Regulation in Educational Environments

FAMILIES FOR RESTRAINT REGULATIONS IN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS - NEW JERSEY

We, the undersigned, believe that regulations governing the use of aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions are required to protect the safety and dignity of students with disabilities.

We support legislation that would provide guidelines on how such interventions should be implemented.

We believe:

Parents must receive written notice in the form a behavior intervention plan from their school district prior to the use of aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions in the education of a child with a disability including the frequency, duration, and rationale for the use of restraints. Such interventions may not be included in an initial behavior intervention plan and may only be utilized after positive behavioral interventions and supports have proven to be ineffective.

School districts may not use aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions prior to informed parental consent.

Only trained school staff may utilize aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions.

Use of aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions for therapeutic purposes must be accompanied by a written statement of an Occupational or Physical Therapist and approved by a physician prior to use in conjunction with parental consent.

School districts must provide annual reporting to the New Jersey Department of Education regarding the number of students with parentally consented use of restraints and injuries resulting from use of aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions

School districts must provide annual reporting to the New Jersey Department of Education regarding the use of aversive, restraint, time-out and seclusion interventions and when they result in injury.