| Updates to Isolation & Restraint Statute |
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Students with Disabilities Gain Greater Protection from Isolation & RestraintThe Tennessee Legislature has passed amendments to the 2009 Special Education Behavioral Supports Act. The updated to the statute will provide students with disabilities and their families additional protections and rights. Training for educators was reinstated to help them with crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques. These measures will help keep students and teachers safer and will improve the learning environments in schools.
The most critical improvement is the language clarifying that restraint and isolation are procedures of last resort, and must be used only in emergency situations where it is necessary to prevent physical harm to the student or others. Families will be notified every time restraint or isolation is employed.
This victory for children and families in Tennessee would not have been possible without the diligent efforts of our partners, the Disability Coalition on Education and the Arc Tennessee. To read the full text of the legislation, click here. |