Dangerous Discipline for Autistic Children in Schools

Dangerous Discipline for Autistic Children. Thousands of autistic and disabled schoolchildren have been injured and dozens have died after being restrained by poorly trained teachers and school aides who tried to subdue them using at times unduly harsh techniques, an ABC News investigation has found.

Abuse, Restraints, and Seclusion in Schools

On December 18, 2013 the Antioch School Board (California) approved a settlement because one of their teachers abused a number of children in her special education class. Click here for our webpage about that case, newspaper clippings and a copy of the Complaint filed in the U. S. District Court. In January 2014, a second $8 million settlement with the Brentwood Union School District. Two Contra Costa, CA School Districts will pay nearly $17 Million to local families in one year.

Understanding Self-Injurious Behavior

Self-injurious behavior is one of the most devastating behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities. The most common forms of these behaviors include: head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive self-rubbing and scratching. There are many possible reasons why a person may engage in self-injurious behavior, ranging from biochemical to the social environment. This paper will discuss many of the causes of self-injury and will describe interventions based on the underlying cause.

Controlling Assault/Self-Injury

Nothing is more difficult for the parents of autistic children to tolerate than self-injurious and assault behavior (SIB/A). SIB/A behaviors are unpleasant to observe, to think about, or to discuss, but they do exist, and must be dealt with. Some autistic children hit their heads against walls or floors so hard that they have fractured their skulls, detached their retinas, or caused deafness. Others hit themselves with their fists or their knees so hard that they have broken noses, deformed ears, and even blinded themselves. Some children bite themselves and others, and hit other children and their parents with such violence they have broken bones.

Bill Proposed To Tell Parents When Child Is Restrained By Teachers

Many school districts across the state have policies in place on when and how to restrain a student or send that student into seclusion, but some are concerned the practice is being over used and in some cases abused with kids who have autism.