Action Alert Georgia: Meeting October 15, 2009 in Macon

Forwarded message from The Georgia Advocacy Office

The Georgia Advocacy Office, in collaboration with The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University, and the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia, urges the Georgia State Board of Education to promulgate a rule that protects all Georgia students from restraint and seclusion and which encourages the proactive use of Positive Behavior Supports in Georgia public schools.

The Department of Education has heeded the call of advocates to regulate the State's dangerous practice of restraint and seclusion by preparing for rule initiation sometime in the late fall or early spring. Early draft versions of the rule have outlawed the use of seclusion and have limited the use of restraint to those situations involving risk of serious bodily injury to self or others. Additionally, prone restraint, chemical restraint, and the practice of restraint used as a punitive measure have been prohibited.

We applaud the Department's decision to address this issue through the development of a rule. This is a good start, but more work is needed. The coalition urges the public to join us in insisting that the rule prohibits the use of adversives, clarifies and strengthens the training requirements for school personnel, provides enhanced safeguards for students who experience prolonged restraint,and creates enforcement and reporting mechanisms.

We invite members of the community to come hear about the State Board of Education rule promulgation process and how they can become involved through public comment. Please join us as we discuss this exciting opportunity at the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities public forum on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at
the Pilot International Foundation located at 102 Preston Ct, Macon, 31210."