Restraint and Seclusion in Schools: Top 5 Recommendations for School-Based Professionals By Brian M. Yankouski, Ed.S., BCBA Restraint and seclusion use in schools has been an ongoing issue over the past few years and has been at the forefront of media attention with reports of students either being seriously injured or killed at the hands […]
Restraint and Seclusion in Schools: Top 5 Recommendations for School-Based Professionals
By Brian M. Yankouski, Ed.S., BCBA
Restraint and seclusion use in schools has been an ongoing issue over the past few years and has been at the forefront of media attention with reports of students either being seriously injured or killed at the hands of school-based professionals. The United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (2014) found that students with disabilities are most likely to be restrained or secluded in school and that black students with disabilities are subjected to mechanical restraints in schools more than any other students. Many school-based professionals working with students with disabilities typically do not receive formalized training for working with severe problem behavior or how to handle crisis situations as part of their undergraduate or graduate training. Here are some tips for school professionals that are faced with using restraint and seclusion with their students:
For more information on restraint and seclusion in schools and even developing school policies in this area you can listen to a podcast done by this author and his colleague through the National Association of School Psychologists here.
About the Author
Brian M. Yankouski, Ed.S., BCBA is the Owner/CEO of B.E.S.T. Strategies, a nationally recognized Behavioral Health Center of Excellence that provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment to individuals with disabilities. He also developed a graduate training program in ABA at Seton Hall University. He has been nationally recognized for his work on restraint and seclusion use in schools and has published articles and a book chapter on the topic and speaks nationally at conventions annually on the issue.
Each person responds differently to events, including learning about a diagnosis of ASD. This news probably feels overwhelming for grandparents just as it does for you as the parent. There may be another layer there in that it is not their child that has been diagnosed, but rather their grandchild and they may also be […]
Each person responds differently to events, including learning about a diagnosis of ASD. This news probably feels overwhelming for grandparents just as it does for you as the parent. There may be another layer there in that it is not their child that has been diagnosed, but rather their grandchild and they may also be worried about the impact it will have on their child, you, who is now the parent. ASD was not as prevalent during grandparents’ upbringing so they may benefit from learning more about what ASD is and what it isn’t. Learning more may help them feel more prepared which helps decrease anxiety. Helping grandparents to connect with other grandparents of children with ASD can also be a great source of information and support. The Grandparents Autism Network is a great online resource. Ensuring that they are getting the support they may need helps to enable them to be able to provide support to you, their adult child, who has just received this news. You may be unsure how to talk to your parent about the diagnosis or what it means and it’s OK to say that. Sharing your own vulnerability and uncertainty, may help a grandparent feels more comfortable showing theirs. As a family with a child with ASD, you may need additional childcare support. Again, through open communication you and grandparents can talk about what feels manageable to them and helping them set up their home in a way that leads to greater success (i.e. a quiet, cool down area or sensory items). Grandparents can also learn the strategies that are most effective with your child, and likely already know many of them as they’ve likely been around the child his/her whole life. Reminding grandparents that the child is the same child they were before the diagnosis may also be helpful. Sometimes the diagnosis tricks us into focusing on the label and we forget that this is the same delightful, active, and unique child as they were before the diagnosis. Check out Autism Speaks’ Grandparents Guide to Autism for more information. Its an 18 page document available for free to print and share with anyone who may benefit.
Dr. Becca
Anxiety is a completely normal thing. It is what has kept us alive, quite literally, throughout time. Anxiety is about the anticipation of something bad happening. When we saw a lion, we anticipated that it would try to eat us, so we ran. That anxiety caused us to go into our fight or flight response […]
Anxiety is a completely normal thing. It is what has kept us alive, quite literally, throughout time. Anxiety is about the anticipation of something bad happening. When we saw a lion, we anticipated that it would try to eat us, so we ran. That anxiety caused us to go into our fight or flight response so that we had extra energy necessary to get away and stay alive. It also taught us to avoid lions.
Luckily, we don’t encounter lions on a daily basis anymore. This is where anxiety can get in our way. Our bodies and minds may be responding as if there is a lion in the area when there isn’t. Of course, if there is a lion you want that fight or flight system to work so you can run. Here are some quick tips to help you manage your anxiety and remind yourself that there is no lion.
Hopefully these hints are helpful. I’d love to hear your feedback about how they work for you. Remember, there is no lion
Dr. Becca
SB 676 in North Carolina is also referred to as the “Autism Health Insurance Legislation”. It was passed by Governor McCory in October 2015 and has an implementation date of July 2016. The information below was taken from the Autism Society of North Carolina’s website What does it do? SB 676 requires health plans to […]
SB 676 in North Carolina is also referred to as the “Autism Health Insurance Legislation”. It was passed by Governor McCory in October 2015 and has an implementation date of July 2016. The information below was taken from the Autism Society of North Carolina’s website
What does it do?
Does this law cover all health insurance plans?
This law covers the large group plans for companies in North Carolina that follow state law. As we have pointed out in our policy paper on insurance, state laws can only affect certain kinds of health insurance plans that make up a small part of the health plan marketplace. Employers are more likely to offer coverage voluntarily, even when they are not required to do so, in states where coverage is required.
The law mentions DSM-5. Does this law require that children diagnosed under DSM-IV (4) be re-diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria to receive the autism benefit?
The law does not require re-diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria. DSM-5 changes to the insurance statutes reflect an update in the law. DSM-5 is now in effect, so the DSM-IV (4) language should not remain in the law. The DSM-5 specifically states that “individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.”
Does SB 676 cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
YES. The definition of Adaptive Behavior Treatment includes Applied Behavior Analysis as well as other treatments for autism. By using the broad term and not naming only one treatment option, the law allows for a range of behavioral and development interventions, including ABA, “that have been shown to be clinically effective.”
Does SB 676 allow ABA therapists (BCBAs) to provide ABA therapy in North Carolina and be reimbursed?
YES. ABA therapists (BCBAs) are already providing services in North Carolina and their services are being reimbursed. Even though they are not licensed, current law allows BCBAs to practice in NC as long as they are supervised. This law does not change any ability to work. The House passed a behavior analyst licensure bill to license BCBAs to practice without supervision. That bill is still eligible to be passed during the short session from April 25 to June 30, 2016. Many organizations worked together to come up with the licensure bill, and although the Autism Society of North Carolina does not typically take a position on the licensing of professional groups, ASNC has endorsed the bill and will be working to pass it in the Senate.
Contact us today to start taking advantage of this coverage!
Dr. Becca
