Successful reforms have taken place in health care settings, in nursing homes, and in programs treating mental illness, but currently there is no federal law that prohibits in public and private school the use of face down restraints, aversive interventions, restraints that restrict breathing, and locked seclusion.  These practices can result in serious injury, psychological trauma, and even death.

What can we do about this? the first step is to get informed. On Saturday, February 18, 10:00 – 11:30 am PST (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm EST) Pat Amos M.A.,  will be presenting on:  Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Restraints and Seclusion To register for free, go here.

This webinar is part of a series of on-line conference webinars on Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention offerred for free by Autism College in partnership with the National Autism Association (NAA), and sponsored in part by The Social Express.

Description of Presentation Topic:  Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Restraints and Seclusion

The rising tide of Positive Behavior Supports has not lifted all boats, and many students with autism and related disabilities continue to be subjected to the use of restraint, seclusion, and other aversives as part of their education and behavior intervention plans. Successful reforms have taken place in health care settings, in nursing homes, and in programs treating mental illness, but many of our schools have not yet “gotten the word” that these techniques are inherently unsafe and can result in serious injury, psychological trauma, and even death. Evidence clearly shows that restraint and seclusion are not education; they are the failure of education. This webinar will help parents, advocates, and teachers understand how to work together to eliminate these highly dangerous and counterproductive techniques.

Presenter: Pat Amos, M.A., has been an advocate for people with disabilities and their families for over 25 years. She is a founder of Autism Support and Advocacy in Pennsylvania and the Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect, past president of the Greater Philadelphia Autism Society, a founder and past president of the Autism National Committee, has served as a member of Pennsylvania’s Developmental Disabilities Council, and is a Board member of international TASH.  She currently works as an Inclusion Specialist with the Youth Advocate Program’s Autism Institute.   Her involvement in the movement to prevent restraint and seclusion is longstanding, and she has worked with the national Alliance for the Prevention of Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion (APRAIS) since participating in its founding in 2004.

Register here for the conference.