The Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services
WCASS Position Paper on Seclusion and Restraint
February 6, 2008
In the recent past, a few school districts have made headlines due to the use of seclusion or restraint with students with disabilities. This has highlighted isolated cases where these techniques have been misused. Seclusion and restraint may be more controversial, but like any other behavioral technique: they must be implemented by properly trained staff, in specifically prescribed situations, and with fidelity. The executive board of the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) recognizes its responsibility to provide leadership to school districts in the education, self-regulation, and appropriate use of seclusion and restraint as behavioral techniques for students with disabilities.
The following is a list of necessary critical elements to ensure the appropriate use of seclusion or restraint as a behavioral technique:
- The dignity and safety of our children and school staff are paramount;
- Seclusion and restraint are implemented as a last resort, when other less invasive strategies have been tried and found ineffective, and/or the behavior is likely to result in injury to the student or others;
- When used, seclusion and restraint should be part of an educational plan (e.g., IEP, behavioral intervention plan) that addresses how/when they will be faded out and replaced by other techniques;
- Whenever it can be reasonably anticipated that either seclusion or restraint may be necessary, it must be included in the student’s IEP;
- As IEP participants, parents have a full understanding of how, when, and why these techniques may be used;
- Districts are strongly encouraged to develop, adopt and annually review local policies on the use of seclusion and restraint; or adopt the DPI document “Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint in Special Education Programs” found at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/sped/doc/secrestrgd.doc;
- Districts are strongly encouraged to have a plan in place for the training of all staff who are reasonably anticipated to use these techniques; and
- Districts are strongly encouraged to develop a system for monitoring and documenting the use of these techniques.
The WCASS organization hopes to work collaboratively with DPI and other involved stakeholders through communication and education to ensure the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint. WCASS will continue to identify and disseminate to its members information on the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint, as well as related information on effective behavioral interventions.
