FW: Seclusion Restraint Draft Rule

[Guest guest]

Please Forward to all who can help.

Dear parents, advocates, and

professionals,

The grassroots effort to stop children from

being harmed in psycho ed centers began to pay off last year. The version 1

(attached) went far into protecting Georgia Children, including prohibiting

seclusion in Ga School. Seclusion was the reason, in my opinion, King

died. ’s parents are attending all sessions next week to do as much

as they can to ensure no other child dies needlessly as their son did. Please support

them with your attendance or at the least, send an email with the comments on specific

areas of the draft rules.

ATLANTA

Tuesday,

January 26, 2010, 10am to 2pm

Rialto

Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 On the corner of Forsyth and

Luckie Streets; For directions and parking information visit www.rialtocenter.org/directions

The DOE drafted Version 1 last August,

2009. This went far to help children in Georgia. However, according to my

understanding, school district employees, school district attorneys, special

education administrators, and special interest lobbyist groups overwhelmed the

DOE with written comments resulting in a new version of the Seclusion and

Restraint Version being weakened significantly, and in my opinion, once again putting

our children in danger in Georgia School Programs.

As a parent, I realize January is an

overwhelming month for special needs kids. Readjusting to school schedule after

unstructured holiday periods is difficult in so many ways and I take exception

to the DOE presenting this timeline when all who work with special needs

children realize January is a most difficult month. It is almost as if the

powers that be know this is the time to let an inappropriate new rule slip by

unnoticed. We just cannot let this happen.

If you can’t attend the session in Atlanta tomorrow, or those

in the other parts of the state on Thursday and Friday, then at the least send

the DOE your comment. In this busy time, there is a template letter letting you

know how to make your voice heard. The email and addresses are below with the areas

needing your attention. Please do what you can. Thank you on behalf of Georgia children.

Sharon Gudger

Below is information to send comment to the

DOE along with locations and webinar opportunities.

Your address

January , 2010

VIA

E-Mail to ameyer@... and US Mail

Allan Meyer

Interim Director, Policy

Georgia Department of

Education

2053 Twin Towers East

205 Hill Jr. Drive, SE

Atlanta, GA

30334

RE: Proposed

Rule 160-5-1-.35 Seclusion and Restraint

Dear Mr. Meyer:

I am writing to provide feedback

regarding Proposed Rule 160-5-1-.35 “Seclusion and Restraint for all Students.”

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the draft rule and to be involved in

the development of the rule prior to its proposal. I care about this

issue because….

As such, I am committed to the

development of a rule that supports schools to educate children in safe and

positive environments that foster learning and growth.

I support the Department’s decision

to address the issue of restraint and seclusion through the development of a

rule. In particular, I support GDOE’s prohibition on seclusion, prone

restraint, mechanical restraint, and chemical restraint. The comments

below are designed to impose significant limitations on the use of physical

restraint and to build safeguards into the process by which school personnel

use restraint and seclusion on a student.

(Please

choose one, all, or none of the following bulleted points. Please add any

comments you wish to share with the Department of Education).

·

Behavioral support for students must

promote the right of all students to be treated with dignity and to be educated

in a safe environment.

·

Physical restraint, an inherently

dangerous practice, should only be used in situations of risk of serious

bodily injury and is only justified based on actual behavior of the student in

the time of emergency.

·

Physical restraint may never be

used for disciplinary purpose, convenience of faculty or staff, or as a

substitute for appropriate positive teaching strategies, techniques, and

supports.

·

Restraint is prohibited to those

situations when less intrusive efforts are not effective and there is danger of

serious bodily injury to self or to others.

·

Schools should use Positive Behavior

Supports as an intervention for students with disruptive or challenging

behaviors. Early identification and intervention are key to effective

utilization.

·

Physical restraint should only be applied

to students by school personnel who have been trained and certified in a

State-approved training program consisting of instruction not only in applying

restraint, but also in de-escalation strategies and problem solving techniques.

·

School systems should be required to

document and report each specific instance of physical restraint on a student

in their school.

·

Again, thank you for the opportunity to

provide commentary on this proposed rule. I look forward to continuing to work

with you to help keep the children of Georgia safe.

Sincerely,

Your Name

cc:

Garry McGiboney, Ph.D.

Associate Superintendent

Innovative Instruction

1752 Twin Towers East

205 Hill Jr. Drive, SE

Atlanta, GA

30334

gmcgiboney@...

O'Hara

Director, Special Education Services

1870 Twin Towers East

205 Hill Jr. Drive, SE

Atlanta, GA

30334

nohara@...

Kim Hartsell

Director, Special Education Supports

1870 Twin Towers East

205 Hill Jr. Drive, SE

Atlanta, GA

30334

khartsell@...

Ruby

Executive Director

Georgia Advocacy

Office

Safe Schools Initiative

150

E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 430

Decatur, Georgia 30030

info@...

Sharon Gudger

From: Lipson

Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010

11:45 AM

To: Sharon Gudger

Subject:

Safe

Schools Public Forums

Ending

Restraint and Seclusion in Georgia Public Schools Currently in Georgia,

schools restrain and seclude children. This is a dangerous practice that must

end. The Georgia Department of Education wants to create a rule that limits

both restraint and seclusion.

Please

join us for community and virtual gatherings to discuss the rule. In these

gatherings, you will create public comment with other members of your community

that will be shared with the Department of Education.

ATLANTA

Tuesday,

January 26, 2010, 10am to 2pm

Rialto

Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 On the corner of Forsyth and

Luckie Streets; For directions and parking information visit www.rialtocenter.org/directions

MACON

Thursday,

January 28, 2010, 10am to 2pm

Mulberry

Street United Methodist

Church, 719 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201 In the Fellowship Hall. Enter

from the back of the building. Church phone number is .

VALDOSTA

Friday,

January 29, 2010, 10am to 2pm

Wingate

by Wyndham, 2010 West Hill Avenue,

Valdosta, GA 31601 In the Ballroom. Wingate phone

number is .

ATHENS

Monday,

February 1, 2010, 10am to 2pm

University

of Georgia, Institute on Human Development and Disability, 850 College Station

Road, Athens, GA 30602 In the Rivers Crossing Building. Park behind the

building. When you enter, go down one floor. Forum is in rooms 62 and 64.

Lunch

will be provided at each public forum

RSVPs

appreciated to info@... or (800)

537-2329

WEBINAR

Tuesday,

January 19, 2010, noon to 1pm

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/855091627

WEBINAR

Monday,

January 25, 2010, 7pm to 8pm

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/581739419

For

more information: http://www.p2pga.org/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=92 & catid=48 & Itemid=66

K. Lipson, JD

Parent Leadership Support Project

Georgia Advocacy

Office

One Decatur

Town Center

150 E. Ponce de

Leon Ave., Suite 430

Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 885- 1234

llipson@...

www.thegao.org

5 of 5 File(s)

Allan Meyer from Ruby 12_24_09.pdf

Advocacy Letter Individual.docx

Ruby to Allan Meyer 9_25_09.pdf

Draft Rule-Seclusion Restraint Version 2 _12-07-09.pdf

Draft Rule-Seclusion and Restraint Version 01- 08-25-09.pdf