Recently I learned in my state and I can imagine many others
isolation rooms, padded rooms, and restraints are not a tactic that needs to be
mentioned to parents. I was under the impression this is something a parent needs to agree to and that is not so. They don't even have to know. I am going to put this as simple as possible…padded rooms
piss me off.
Not
just padded rooms, isolation and restraints but the unethical and need I say
abusive approach schools are taking. There is no reason under the sun any child
should be put through this treatment and sent home at the end of the day as
though this is what getting an education is all about. Many times unable to
talk about what was done during the day or often times it’s not understood.
Autism learns social behavior from the behavior of others. If mom drops her
child off for the day and part of the day means being dragged into a padded
room then that child might believe this is part of the day and that is that. The
wrong factor doesn’t click and if anyone is working near autism they know this,
or had better know this.
Anyone who
works with autism must know what happens during the day will affect home life
and the days ahead at school. If they don’t know this, get out of the special
education system please. The use of
these padded rooms always follows a typical abuse pattern meaning, the room is
given a name like jail or naughty room. Quiet room is my favorite one because it
sounds completely harmless, it’s not. All of these titles sound similar to a
time out which is a basic discipline tactic used everywhere so it doesn’t sound
as bad as it is. The school does not have to notify a parent and most of the
time will not. A recent story I read was a boy who had been placed in a padded
room for four years beginning at the age of 6. Mom never knew because the
school never told her, didn’t have to. If this was not abusive why would it not
be known to a parent? Why would it be ok to do a child who can’t speak without
knowledge to anyone outside of the system? If there is any kind of understanding of autism at all, it would be known this tactic could cause a huge number of problems. I find it very hard to believe schools don't know this and keeping this treatment secret until a child is able to talk about it, if ever, is abuse.
If you
research padded rooms you will also find prisons use them and most are in better
shape with more space than the schools are using. Lets repeat that…PRISONS USE
THEM. Now let that sink in, schools and prisons. How does a prison put an
inmate in a padded room? Force. How does a school put a child in a padded room?
Force.
Maybe
padded rooms in prisons are a bit nicer because we put more money into our
prisons than our schools, which brings to the point of why schools would put
money into something like this to begin with. You don’t have to be an autism parent
to get pissed off about this and this is why, there is no limit to who can be
put in these rooms. Nothing says a parent needs to be notified therefore
nothing says these rooms are only for a certain group of kids. They might say
that, but legally there is no limit. After all the only reason a padded room in
Longview Washington was discovered and its use was stopped was because a
mainstream boy was being put in it. A neurotypical boy who was able to speak
and tell his mom long after the treatment began. It was only then the outrage
began and something was done. Even then some people felt it was ok for special
needs but not kids who don’t have “problems”.
To end this,
anyone who is working with autism or creating autism programs in our schools
and feels the use of a padded room is a form of education or treatment is a
damn fool. They have no business being anywhere near our children. We cannot
fight everyday at home to understand our children in a way that creates
progress and in a way no one else does only to send them to school and have this
happen. It completely defeats the all we work for and what school systems are
supposed to be working for. Progress, social development, care, independence,
education, trust, faith, and love. None of which are found in isolation.
I live in Illinois and have worked in two separate settings that incorporated the use of "quiet rooms" as part of the approved program of treatment.
ReplyDeleteThe first, a therapeutic day school for students with an autism (ASD), behavioral disorder (BD), and/or emotional disorder (ED) diagnosis, has strict procedures as to when the quiet room may be used. It is used under CONSTANT supervision and ONLY when the student is a physical danger to themselves or to others. Students are monitored for hydration, any increase of negative behaviors, and overall affect/demeanor. Students are released from the quiet room upon returning to stable (normal) affect/demeanor. Parents/Guardians are notified EVERY TIME a student is placed into one of the quiet rooms for this purpose. Potential use of the quiet rooms is discussed/explained at student IEPs, at parent-teacher conferences, and at other appropriate times.
The second, a behavioral hospital, follows many of the same procedures with the addition that patients may be given stabilizing medicine, with doctor approval only, to decrease high-risk, negative patient aggression and/or self-injurious behavior. Again, parents/guardians are notified when such restrictive measures are implemented.
If the quiet room is locked, thus restricting student/patient mobility, the room is visually monitored. A "Use of Restrictive Measures" document is also completed and shared with the parent/guardian.
I would suggest that you discuss these procedures with school personnel and/or research the laws/procedures for where you live.
I know that use of quiet rooms may often be viewed as punishment/discipline, but I can assure that, at least when I have seen them implemented, they are used only to protect the child when the child is exhibiting aggressive and/or self-injurious behaviors. If it is used for any purpose that is inappropriate, I whole-heartedly agree that they would "piss me off" as well.
I hope that, as you continue to be a positive influence in your child's education, you are able to bring awareness of your concerns and find solutions that help your child to progress.
it is abuse!!! my son was put in one 2 and 3 times a day for months, it did not "fix" anything, just got him out of their way, until the school finally called, "you son is hitting himself on the wall yelling let me die, let me tell you this NEVER happened at home, this is a cry for HELP and the school failed
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