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Current Action Alerts

Act Now to Ensure the Strength of the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

Issue: Act Now to Ensure the Strength of the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

Action: We need the support of the NYS Congressional Delegation to sign on to HR 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act. This bill was voted out of the Education and Labor Committee of the House on February 4. Five NY House members have signed on (Timothy Bishop, Carolyn Maloney, Carolyn McCArthy, Louise Slaughter, and Paul Tonko).

Call or email your Representative and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 4247. If your representative has signed on, please thank him or her. You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your Representative. You can provide them with your zip code if you do not know his or her name.

- Identify yourself as a constituent and the organization that you represent (if any).

- If you have a personal story about the negative effects of restraint and seclusion, please give them some of the details so they understand why this bill is so important.

Sample Message (adapted from NCIL):

"I am calling to urge [Name of Your Representative] to cosponsor H.R. 4247, legislation to prevent harmful use of restraint and seclusion in schools. Currently, seventeen states have no protections whatsoever against the use of harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. H.R. 4247 would create a basic floor of protection and would require staff training to protect children and keep our schools safe."

Background: A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released last spring exposed hundreds of cases of schoolchildren being abused as a result of inappropriate uses of restraint and seclusion, often involving untrained staff. In some cases, children died. A disproportionate number of these victims were students with disabilities. In some of the cases GAO investigated, ropes, duct tape, chairs with straps and bungee cords were used to restrain or isolate young children.

"This bill makes clear that there is no place in our schools for abuse and torture," said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. "The egregious abuse of a child should not be considered less criminal because it happens in a classroom -- it should be the opposite. I`m proud that this bill has bipartisan support and I hope the full House will vote on it soon."

Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools. While the Childrens Health Act of 2000 regulates how and when restraint and seclusion can be used on children in these other settings, this bill would cover schools for the first time. State regulation and oversight varies greatly; many states provide no guidance or assistance regarding these behavioral interventions. For those who want more information, go to the following links.

House Committee Action: http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/02/bipartisan-legislation-to-prev.shtml

Supporters of this bill: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/01/supporters-of-the-preventing-h.shtml

Myth vs. Fact: http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/02/myth-vs-fact-preventing-harmfu.shtml

Take Action to Stop Home Care Cuts!

Issue: Take Action to Stop Home Care Cuts!

Action: Use the Center for Disability Rights` capwiz to send letters to your legislators about the harmful effects Paterson`s proposed cuts would have on people with disabilities.

Click on the "Take Action" link below, which will take you to a sample letter. Feel free to edit the letter to make it more personal.

Take Action

http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14698626
or cut and paste into your browser window the above address.

Background: The Executive Budget includes over $150 million in home care cuts, including personal care. If these cuts are enacted, the home and community-based care system that New Yorkers with disabilities and seniors rely on will continue to weaken, and we will lose access to care, forcing us into costly nursing facilities. People with disabilities and seniors cannot afford to lose their home care!