Restraint bill protects children

As you send your child off to school, do you ever wonder about their day? What would you do if you knew there was a chance your child could be restrained and/or secluded?

In the United States, this is a common problem for parents; specifically parents of kids with disabilities. Out of all students in special education, 75 percent have been restrained and 58 percent were secluded. These restraints are harmful to students and can have an effect on their emotional and physical well-being.

Restraints don’t just mean holding them down. They include handcuffs, plastic ties, ankle restraints, pepper spray, batons, tasers and many, many more things. There are many stories about students being restrained and being seriously injured, and it’s happening in Spokane schools. This can be prevented.

There is a bill in this session of the Washington Legislature that states that schools must use restraints only in serious cases, write a report if restraints are used and notify the parents within 24 hours, as most parents don’t know that their children are being restrained. This, along with the overall cruelty of restraints, is why this bill should be passed in order to protect every child.

Corrin Black

Spokane