COPAA Adopts Policy Opposing Abuse of Children in Schools

On Wednesday, June 26, 2008, the COPAA Board adopted a Declaration of Principles Opposing the Use of Restraints, Seclusion, and Other Aversive Interventions Upon Children with Disabilities.

COPAA is concerned about the use of restraints, seclusion and aversive interventions as part of educational programs for children with disabilities. Restraints, seclusion and aversive interventions are neither educational nor effective. Instead, their harms and dangers are well-documented. Inappropriately used, they amount to child abuse.

Children should receive effective positive behavior supports developed within a comprehensive, professionally-developed plan of behavioral accommodations, supports, and interventions. But, too often school personnel who have not been thoroughly trained in research-validated methods for promoting positive behavior change and crisis de-escalation resort to inappropriate abusive methods.

The Declaration of Principles is part of COPAA's ongoing initiative to prevent the use of restraints and aversive interventions on children. COPAA will also create other public policy and issue awareness tools. In addition to the public policy materials, COPAA is developing practice materials to assist attorneys and advocates in combating the abuse of children with disabilities in schools. The practice materials are funded through donations to the Stan Appell-Jean Alpert fund. More information can be found on the COPAA website here

Read the Declaration of Principles here.