Inappropriate Use of Restraint and Seclusion: Initiative to Protect Children with Disabilities

This press release from the U.S. Department of Education (January 17, 2019) describes new initiatives to address and govern the use of restraint and seclusion on recipients of Section 504, Title II and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) accommodations and services. Compliance reviews, data collection, and technical assistance to enforce the legal obligations of states and school districts are mentioned as methods for improving results and outcomes for children with disabilities. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in partnership with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), will oversee this initiative.