Call to Ban Prone Restraints in NC Schools

Provided by Stacey Massengill, NCSPA Legislative and Public Policy Committee Member

Originally Submitted by Rob Thompson, Executive Director of the Covenant with North Carolina's Children

Attached is a letter from Disability Rights calling on Congress and NC's school districts to ban the use of prone restraints on students. See below for more context on this important issue.

If you are interested in signing on (Letter of Support) in support, please contact Kristine Sullivan at (919) 856-2195 or kristine.sullivan@disabilityrightsnc.org by February 12th.

Best, Rob

ISSUE BACKGROUND

In the past year, dangerous seclusion and restraint practices in public schools have become issues of national concern. In an upcoming report, Disability Rights NC (DRNC) is calling upon each of North Carolina's school systems to adopt a ban on prone restraint and implement Positive Behavior Supports. In the report, DRNC also includes information on important federal legislation that would ban the use of any restraint position (including prone restraint) that interferes with a student's breathing. The bill, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247 and S. 2860), was drafted in collaboration with both student advocacy groups and associations of educators.

Disability Rights NC supports this federal legislation, which would impose stricter standards than what currently exists under NC law. Greater protections are particularly important for students with disabilities in North Carolina, who, as DRNC has discovered, are subjected to the routine and frequent use of prone restraint.

DRNC would appreciate your support in calling for a ban on prone restraint in North Carolina's public schools. Attached please find a letter from Vicki Smith, DRNC Executive Director, and a draft letter that will be sent to all of the NC school districts with a copy of our report. Let's stop the use of prone restraint before a North Carolina student dies.

If your organization would like to sign on in support, please contact Kristine Sullivan at (919) 856-2195 or kristine.sullivan@disabilityrightsnc.org by February 12th. Please contact DRNC if you have any questions, and feel free to share this with other organizations.