NEWS: U.S. House Committee on Ed. & Labor passes H.R. 4247 to regulate use of restraint and seclusion in U.S. public schools

Note: Some of the links crosslink to the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG blog which has been tracking the topic since May, 2009.
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Thursday, February 4, 2010, the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor passed by a bipartisan vote of 34 to 10,
H.R. 4247: The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act -
"To prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, and for other purposes".

This bill, which would regulate the use of restraint, seclusion and other practices in all U.S. public schools, has been the subject of considerable public attention since its introduction on December 9, 2009.

The impetus for H.R. 4247's introduction by Representatives George Miller, 7th-D, CA & Cathy McMorris Rodgers, 5th-D. WA, was a May 19, 2009 hearing before the House Committee on Education and Labor examining the abusive and deadly use of seclusion and restraint in schools, in addition to an investigative report by the GAO, and the report: School is Not Supposed to Hurt: Investigative Report on Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools by the National Disability Rights Network.

A related Senate bill is S.2860 (Dodd) "A bill to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, and for other purposes"

The next step for H.R. 4247 is the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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For further reading

H.R. 4247 at Thomas.gov

Seclusions and Restraints: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers.  GAO-09-719T, May 19, 2009


School is Not Supposed to Hurt: Investigative Report on Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
National Disability Rights Network, January 2009

Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Abuse in Schools Clears House Committee
February 4, 2010 12:30 PM

MYTH VS. FACT: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act
By Kittredge, Betsy Miller on February 3, 2010 11:05 AM
EdLabor Journal. Committee on Education & Labor
 
H.R. 4247 - Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act
U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor
Full Committee Markup 11:00 AM, February 4, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC

News of the Day: The Story Behind The Bill
By Kruger, Mike on February 4, 2010 10:30 AM |

School Restraint, Seclusion Bill Clears House Committee
By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop
February 4, 2010

Past Blog Posts on topic from the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG blog
All past blog posts on the topic and introduction of H.R. 4247 & S.2860

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ANNOUNCE: National Autism Center releases new educators' manual on evidence-based practice for ASD in schools

The National Standards Project of the National Autism Center announced in their December newsletter that a NEW manual targeting educators is available for free download or purchase at their website, and shared an update on the also available recently released National Standards Project Report.

National Autism Center Releases New Autism Educator Manual

We are pleased to make available a comprehensive new manual by the National Autism Center entitled, Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools.

“We created this manual for educators as a means of promoting evidence-based practice for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in schools,” said Susan M. Wilczynski, Ph.D., BCBA, Executive Director of the National Autism Center. “We know that research-supported interventions are most likely to produce positive outcomes for the ever-increasing numbers of students with ASD.”

The development and publication of the manuals were made possible through support from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc., and the Niel M. Wreidt 2003 Revocable Trust. The American Legion grant enabled us to distribute the first 3,000 manuals free of charge to public school systems throughout the country.

Due to the overwhelming response to the manuals, we are making them available on our website. Visitors can now download them for free, or purchase a hard copy through our on-line Bookstore. We welcome you to take a look!

This is a new complement to the National Standards Project Report, previously issued in September, which addressed the level of evidence for autism interventions.

NAC Director Susan M. Wilczynski, Ph.D., BCBA talks about the National Standards Project

In their update on the National Standards Project Report, the NAC December newsletter also stated that,

The response to our September announcement of National Standards Project results has been tremendous! Individuals from every state in the United States, and from close to 50 countries, have visited our website in the past two months. They have downloaded tens of thousands of free copies of the Project results.

Help us to continue spreading the word! Forward our e-card to others who might be interested in learning about the National Standards Project.

We invite you to visit our website to view and download a free electronic copy, or to purchase a printed copy, of the report.

The primary goal of the National Standards Project is to provide critical information about which treatments have been shown to be effective for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The National Standards Report covers a broad range of applied treatments and identifies the level of scientific evidence available for each. The report serves as a single, authoritative source of guidance for parents, caregivers, educators, and service providers as they make informed treatment decisions. We are confident that these findings and recommendations will change lives and give hope and direction to people whose lives are touched by autism.

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Past post:
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ANNOUNCE: National Autism Center releases National Report from the National Standards Project

Disclaimer

The Oregon Association for Behavior Analysis (OR-ABA) posts items only as a service to OR-ABA members and other interested persons. OR-ABA reserves the right to edit items submittedfor content, length, and style. OR-ABA will post only those event announcements that appear to be consistent with OR-ABA's statement of purpose, relevant laws, regulations, and ethical principles. OR-ABA's decision in this regard is final. These announcements should not construed as advertisements or endorsements of the products, services, or events described. OR-ABA cannot accept paid advertising on these pages. Announcements of commerical events or events with strong commercial tie-ins will be carefully evaluated for suitability. OR-ABA makes no representation of the accuracy of the events announcements, the quality of the events described, or suitability of any event or its intended use.
Please visit our website to find out more about OR-ABA, our activities, monthly meetings and speakers.