What type of restraining is OK for a 5 yr old with ASD?

TinyPinkBug

My 5 yr old is in his last summer at a preschool for SN kids, his official dx is having an ASD.  Today when I went to pick him up, he wasn't at the playground with  his class, I was told he had a bad day so he was kept back in the classroom.  When I got to the room I went in to find him having a tantrum buckled with a lap belt into a wooden Rifton chair.  My son has absolutely no physical need for a rifton chair.  The use of the chair was for the sole purpose of restraining him ( preventing him from running off, throwing things, hitting) while the aide cleaned the room.

I don't like the use of a chair strap being used to restrain my child.  They have a "time-out" room that he has used in the past to calm himself when he gets out of control, but the teacher said they stopped using it for him last week since he will be going to kindergarten in Sept and they don't have time-out rooms there.  So it is not like there weren't other options.

  Thoughts and insight?

MyLittleSweetPea

As a special education teacher, NONE!  They were using that restraint to manage noncompliant behavior- not to prevent imminent physical danger.  That was totally inappropriate!  The crack down is on, so to speak, about any type of restraint in school settings and preschools need to be on notice as well.  ESPECIALLY one that specializes with kids with special needs!

ABColeslaw

TinyPinkBug:

My 5 yr old is in his last summer at a preschool for SN kids, his official dx is having an ASD.  Today when I went to pick him up, he wasn't at the playground with  his class, I was told he had a bad day so he was kept back in the classroom.  When I got to the room I went in to find him having a tantrum buckled with a lap belt into a wooden Rifton chair.  My son has absolutely no physical need for a rifton chair.  The use of the chair was for the sole purpose of restraining him ( preventing him from running off, throwing things, hitting) while the aide cleaned the room.

I don't like the use of a chair strap being used to restrain my child.  They have a "time-out" room that he has used in the past to calm himself when he gets out of control, but the teacher said they stopped using it for him last week since he will be going to kindergarten in Sept and they don't have time-out rooms there.  So it is not like there weren't other options.

  Thoughts and insight?

 

I  am on the crisis team in my school and we would never restrain a child unless they were endangering themselves or others and there was no other way to intercede.  And we definately wouldn't strap them down.  You need to call a team meeting and discuss what happened and create an action plan.  I'd be very upset if I were you. 

Cheerilee

Restraint should only be used by trained staff when the child is at risk of hurting himself or others.  If he is attempting harm to others or property, children and dangerous items should be removed - NOT the child restrained.  If adults are being harmed, harm can be blocked without the use of restraints (get out of the way, brush away punches, block kicks, etc.).  Look up restraint laws in your state.  The timeout room doesn't even sound appropriate.

I would call a meeting and request an FBA if his behaviors are "so out of control" he requires restraint.  A plan should be in place with restraint a LAST resort.  Your child should instead be learning to control behavior - not have it controlled for him.  I worked with an extreme population as a special education teacher and never restrained.

TinyPinkBug

Thanks for all the responses.  I am going to call the school as soon as staff is there.  My son is a 40 pound 5 yr old, he couldn't cause a bruise even with his hardest kick.  His physical attacks while angry aren't with force either, they are more about a power struggle.  There is no way any adult could truely feel threatened by him physically.  The time-out room usually used is actually called "Comfy-Cozy", it is an unlocked room filled with pillows, blankets, matresses, soft-plushy toys and some sensory toys.  It is a relaxing place for him to calm down and students are never alone in there.

mesmom2011

I am a special education teacher in a self-contained setting. 

As far as this situation goes, does your LO's IEP have a provision to allow this type of restraint?  If so, does it specify what behaviors would allow this type of restraint?  (I have one student who is a danger to himself and others at times.  His IEP specifies the use of a chair such as the one that you have described.  It also specifies behaviors that would allow the use of the chair.  All of this has been determined in an IEP meeting and with his parents' knowledge and agreement.)  I would certainly contact the director and let them know how upset you are by this situation.  At the very least, the staff need some training in regards to the law and appropriate responses to escalated behavior.  You are within your rights to take legal action as it sounds like their response was illegal. 

Looking into the future, I would request a formal behavior plan to be a part of his IEP.  Legally, his teachers will have to follow the plan.  Be sure to request wording that prohibits the use of physical restraint unless your DS is in danger of hurting himself or others and only as a last resort and for the length of time necessary for him to gain control.