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Autism Alliance urges State Board to prohibit seclusion and restrict restraints after DOJ settlement
Summary
Heather Eckner of the Autism Alliance of Michigan urged the board to ban seclusion, limit restraints to emergencies, mandate trauma-informed training, require timely family notification and public reporting, and establish oversight bodies; she cited a DOJ settlement and survey data showing high rates of seclusion and restraint.
Heather Eckner, statewide director of education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, used the public comment period to urge the State Board to lead statewide reforms to end harmful seclusion and restraint practices in Michigan public schools.
Eckner cited a U.S. Department of Justice civil-rights settlement with Montcalm Area ISD that followed a review finding students with disabilities were secluded and restrained more than 2,400 times during the review period, often for nonemergency classroom behaviors. She said the Alliance surveyed nearly 900 families: 34% reported their child had been restrained or secluded, 72% said it occurred during non-emergency situations, 61% described lasting emotional trauma and nearly 40% reported families were not notified in a timely or transparent manner.
She called on the board to prohibit all forms of seclusion, restrict restraint to true emergencies with robust oversight, mandate trauma-informed training for all school staff, ensure timely family notification and public reporting of incidents, and establish local and regional oversight bodies that include family and advocate voices.
The board did not respond during the public comment period, consistent with board practice. Eckner’s remarks and the DOJ settlement were presented as evidence of systemic problems beyond a single district.
