"Therapy Bag" and Bill on Restraint and Seclusion

The case of Chris Baker in Kentucky -- the ASD student stuffed in a "therapy bag" -- is getting attention from national (CNN.com) and international (The Guardian) media.  At The Age of Autism, the Autism National Committee is seeking support for federal legislation on restraint and seclusion

Last week, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, S.2020, to protect students nationwide from dangerous restraint and seclusion.  As the GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) has found, restraint/seclusion are dangerous, resulting in deaths, injuries, and trauma to children nationwide.  WE ARE SEEKING LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL FROM PARENTS THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH SENATOR HARKIN’S STAFF AND PERHAPS OTHER SENATE STAFF.   WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN STORIES OF CHILDREN WHO RESTRAINED OR SECLUDED AND WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN HELPED IF THE BILL WAS LAW.   You do not have to have a story to send a letter.  Please email Jessica Butler, Congressional Affairs Coordinator, Autism National Committee, atjessica@jnba.net if you have a story or think the bill would have helped your child, or if you would like to send a letter in support of the bill (even if you do not have a story).  Please feel free to forward and share with others....Please contact me if you are a parent who would like to write a letter of support or if you have a story.  You do not have to have a story to write a letter.  My email isjessica@jnba.net .  For those on yahoo groups and other systems that cut off email addresses, my email address is jessica (at) jnba-dot-net
Thank you,
Jessica ButlerCongressional Affairs CoordinatorAutism National Committee21 years of advocating for the rights of people with autism and related disabilitieswww.autcom.orgemail: jessica@jnba.net  [jessica (at) jnba.net]