I'm curious what you think...
about schools using chairs with seatbelts in the preschool classrooms?
about schools using chairs with seatbelts in the preschool classrooms?
To all the parents who have walked through the guardianship process — my heart is with you. Our paperwork is prepped and ready to submit this week. He turns 18 on April 3rd. I've been thinking about this for a year now, but only just mustered the energy to move forward — the loom of his birthday my propellant. Overwhelm has paralyzing effect. I'm struggling to recall the last time I didn't feel overwhelmed. It struck me how all these years of walking through disability beside Trevor should have made me stronger and yet... I suppose it's a different kind of muscle being developed.
Comments
Having 'been there' many times, many many times, I do not recall seatbelts used for bad. Really ever. Temporary containment measures allow for group activities and instruction that might otherwise not be possible even with a high adult/child ratio.
I gotta say, I rather like the design of the chair. Consider suggesting little pillows, for comfort. Barbara
My first reaction....was OMG! But I get it. Look at the kiddos with really low muscle tone who need these chairs.
Look at the sensory and autistic kiddos who need to be "hotdogged" in a carpet or weighted blanket. I get all this and it doesn't freak me out (even though there was a death of an autistic child in can last year due to a rug/hot dog technique inappropriately used....not the norm, I realize)
Freaks me out slightly though. I just get visions of all these little pre-schoolers tied down, trying to get out, tipped over in their chairs....that's my craziness getting away from me because we KNOW that's not what it's about.
Soooo.....my burning question; what is the school's policy/plan with these chairs?
If you would like more information on the issue of restraints and seclusion, the federal government has released a state by state report on the rules. You can view the over two hundred page document at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/seclusion/summary-by-state.pdf.
And I'm wondering if I used a high chair or something like the rocking chair...if Trevy might actually watch a whole Signing Times DVD rather than watching the credits and running!
I suppose the heart of my issue with the school using a belted chair is ~ trust. I don't trust that all of the staff would be using it for the right reasons. Also...it has been used with Trevor during circle time and for Time Out. I do not want it used for Time Out. He has a one on one aide who can and should be enforcing time out with him. But if she needs to use it during group...so that she can focus on helping him catch the learning rather than spending her energy making him stay...that's different.
Anyway...I was curious how others felt. It's been interesting to hear the dialogue!
...danielle
...danielle
Barbara
Good point about pop ins.
...danielle