The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network |Take Action

Tell Congress and the White House to Act on School Abuse

To: The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate and The U.S. House

Started by: The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

This action alert is designed to let people call on Congress and the White House to take action against school abuse against students with disabilities, particularly through the use of aversives, restraint and seclusion.

Sign the Letter

Protect Students with Disabilities From Abuse Through Aversives, Restraints and Seclusion

Dear Representative,

As our country commits to avoiding torture against our captured enemies abroad, it is past time that we end the torture of Americans with disabilities here at home. According to a recent report from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), students with disabilities across the country are at risk for abuse due to the frequent use of aversives, restraints and seclusion within our public schools.

Groups such as NDRN, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, TASH and others have been advocating about this issue for years. We encourage you to work in concert with these organizations to undertake real and lasting action to protect students with disabilities from abuse. Such action must include both technical assistance and legal enforcement, as well as a ban on the use of aversives and non-emergency restraint and seclusion. To end abuse against students with disabilities will require action from both the executive and the legislative branches, as well as rigorous legal enforcement. The time has come to act and act now on this crucial civil rights concern. We encourage you to hear our voices.

[Your name here]

The time period for signing this petition has ended.

Kactus Kat Peoria, AZ

Sent letter to Trent Franks , John McCain , Jon Kyl and Barack Obama

Jul 13
Cole Burns Manhattan, KS

Sent letter to Jerry Moran , Barack Obama , Sam Brownback , Pat Roberts and Lynn Jenkins

Jun 22
Laurie Brewer Barberton, OH

Sent letter to Betty Sutton , Barack Obama , Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich

Jun 04
Pamylle Greinke Peconic, NY

Signed letter

Jun 03
Madeline Grimm Great Falls, VA

Sent letter to Frank Wolf , Barack Obama and Jim Webb

Jun 02
Gin Ahlbin Cener Point, TX

Sent letter to Charlie Gonzalez , Ciro Rodriguez , Barack Obama , Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn

Jun 01
Aura Castro Piscataway, NJ

Sent letter to Frank Pallone , Barack Obama , Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez

"I also suggest that the Special Education Department become part of TheFederalGovernment.
To stop the funds to all school districts. The child study team (CST)at every public school should hold responsability as well as legal investigation on the lack to implement the manifestation determination process and behavioral programs applications that are mandatories under the Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA) that could prevented the disabled student from being abused. My personal opinion is that The National Disability Rights Network had been given all the necessary information to stop
the schoolhousing to jailhousing pipeline. I have all my hope in the new Administration that is runned by educated people able to understand the terrible consecuences of a traumitized society. As been said by the National Council of Disability (NCD) 100,000 disabled children are sent to correctional facilities per year.
We need to re-locate those children and make sure they are receiving the right counceling for the well being of our society."

May 31
Ivy M Bay Area, CA

Sent letter to Pete Stark , Mike Honda , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer and Barack Obama

May 29
Angie Whiteman Jersey, United Kingdom

Sent letter to Barack Obama , Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez

May 29
Julia Tawyea' Lake Ariel, PA

Sent letter to Chris Carney , Barack Obama , Arlen Specter and Bob Casey

May 26