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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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MO Legislation Would Ban Seclusion Rooms for Children with Disabilities

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Monday, March 2, 2009   

St. Louis, MO - There's a move in the Missouri state legislature to ban the use in schools of seclusion rooms for children with disabilities. The proposal comes after a Missouri family spoke out against the use of such facilities, also called time-out rooms, alleging abuse and neglect by the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles. Proponents of the legislation say such rooms exist across the state but that there are better ways to approach behavioral issues.

Ange Hemmer says that when her son was in kindergarten he saw the seclusion room too often and for much too long, and that the disciplinary action left a traumatic mark on her boy. She recently pulled him from the Francis Howell School District and will home-school him.

State Senator Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) has introduced legislation that would ban use of such rooms for children with disabilities until it can be proven that the rooms serve a worthwhile purpose.

Hemmer says schools across the state use the rooms, but they're not an effective tool to correct behavioral issues and can set up failure for a child with disabilities.

"So, he was basically just placed into a small room, small closet actually, with no guidance and no
assistance in how to de-escalate. He was basically being taught not how to self-regulate, but to give up."

The Francis Howell School District says the rooms were used only as a last resort, and believes they are needed in the interest of safety for all the kids in school.

However, the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities supports the legislation banning the rooms, and also recommends regulating the use of restraints.

Vicky Davidson of the Council says restraints and seclusion rooms are often being used as a first, instead of last, resort. She says there are better options in addressing behavioral issues.

"Using positive behavioral support in an effective way would be ideal and is considered evidence-based best practice."

Davidson says this issue is also of national concern and is being addressed by Congress, after a recent investigative report by the National Disability Rights Network showed that what it called excessive restraints and seclusion were being used in all states across the country.


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