National Autism Association Action Alert: Halt Florida Restraint & Seclusion Bill

From our friends at NAA: We need your help to make sure critically flawed restraint and seclusion legislation is not signed into law in the state of Florida.

PLEASE ASK FLORIDA GOVERNOR CRIST TO STAND UP FOR OUR KIDS BY NOT SIGNING SB 2118 INTO LAW

Dear Parents and Friends,

Florida parents and advocates have been working hard to get legislation passed to protect our children from abusive restraint and seclusion practices in schools.  However, the original version of SB 2118 has been stripped of its ability to appropriately address the situation and will likely end up doing more harm than good for our most vulnerable children. 

Please take five minutes to:

1.) CALL GOVERNOR CRIST’S OFFICE: (850) 488-7146 ASK HIM TO NOT TO SIGN SB 2118 INTO LAW.
2). FAX THE LETTER BELOW TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: (850) 487-0801
3)  CLICK HERE TO EMAIL THIS LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFIC

Governor Charlie Crist
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Dear Governor Crist:

I am writing to ask that you NOT SIGN SB 2118: An Act Relating to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities into law.

As you are aware, abusive restraint and seclusion practices used in public schools continue to kill, injure and traumatize students as young as four years old. As originally written, the legislation would have effectively addressed abusive practices but the version passed in our legislature will do little or nothing to protect children in our schools.

While the current bill provides some minimal protections in reporting and notification, it does not provide assurances to families that their children will be safe from the overuse and illegal use of restraint and solitary confinement. There are no prohibitions, definitions or guidelines. The bill also does not address prone restraint, a facedown hold that has killed many children.

Unfortunately, restraint and seclusion methods appear to be utilized as a dangerous, quick fix replacement for evidence-based behavior practices. As a result, there is growing local and national concern over the ongoing violation of human and civil rights. Voiceless and vulnerable children require strong protections so that their education may be implemented according to the stringent requirements of the IDEA.
Our federal laws clearly state that disabled children should never be punished, or harmed as a direct result of their disability. I strongly believe that the current version of SB 2118 will not end or even reduce the already well documented cases of misuse and illegal use of restraint and/or seclusion. 
For the sake of our most vulnerable children, please do not sign this bill into law.
Sincerely,
(your name)

Mailing Address:
National Autism Association
1330 W. Schatz Lane
Nixa, MO 65714
US

Contact Name: Wendy Fournier
Telephone Number: (877) 622-2884