Sample Maine e-mail
Dear (insert senator or reps name http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm),
I am writing to ask for your support of the updated Rule 33 governing the use of physical restraint and seclusion in Maine schools. When fully implemented, the new rules will make a big difference for all individuals, but especially for children with special needs.
Restraint and seclusion create a huge risk for injury to the child and adults involved. They also create psychological problems, including trauma, in young children. Children can learn their caregivers will place them in ‘scary’ situations, which impairs the development of safe relationships. Children may also associate their classrooms with invasive and traumatic experiences.
Restraint and seclusion have no therapeutic benefit. Therefore, children’s behaviors may remain unchanged and teachers may end up using more forceful, intrusive behavior-control procedures. The likelihood that circumstances may occur over and over again in the same way is both negative and disturbing for the child, with no positive outcomes. When restraint and seclusion are used to control behavior, such procedures may over time become the “normal” or routine practices in the classroom. With continued implementation of restraint and seclusion, the risk of abuse is dramatically heightened.
In short, restraint and seclusion are not safe or effective methods for helping children and teachers. The alternative, positive behavioral intervention and support (see http://www.pbis.org/) has been proven effective in many school systems around the country. In addition to helping children with behavioral challenges, PBIS improves the school environment for all children.
The updated Rule 33 was created for all idividuals in Maine schools to feel safe. I urge you to support its continued implementation and to support training programs which help teachers learn to use the effective alternatives to restraint and seclusion.
Thank you,
[your name and address]
Note: this was adapted from the Issue Brief found here: http://www.challengingbehavior.org/do/resources/documents/brief_preventing.pdf