Advocates call out seclusion as human rights violation; witnesses and clients to speak
MEDIA ADVISORY: (St. Paul, Minn.) — Banned in 2023, school seclusion rooms for K-3 learners with disabilities are up for debate again in the Minnesota legislature. With the recently passed SF1740, attorneys, school personnel and parents are gathering to urge lawmakers to reject the practice. Hear from them at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
Where: Capitol Press Room – B971
When: Thursday, May 8, 1:30 p.m.
What: Witnesses, victims, attorneys speak to harm of seclusion practices.
Who:
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Staff Attorney, Jessica Webster
Parent, Former Paraprofessional, Molly Hoffard, Lakeville
Minnesota Representative and Disability Advocate, Kim Hicks, DFL- Rochester 25A,
Solutions not Suspensions Executive Director, Erin Sandsmark
Multicultural Autism Action Network Executive Director, Maren Christenson
PACER Center Public Policy Coordinator, Laura Jean
EdAllies Programs & Outreach Manager, Margaret Sullivan
S.T.A.N.D Up MN Parents United Executive Director, Khulia Pringle
Legal Aid Client, Parent & Kindergarten Teacher, Katie Schmidt
Co-sponsors: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, EdAllies, PACER Center, Minnesota Multicultural Autism Network, Solutions Not Suspensions MN, Coalition for Children with Disabilities, The ARC, Autism Society of Minnesota
“When the Minnesota Legislature banned seclusion in 2023, this was to be the start of a phase out. Seclusion is still legal for students with disabilities in grades 4-12. We expected to move forward, not backward in maintaining Minnesota’s highest values in education for our youngest learners. For the future of Minnesota, we must protect those values.”
– Staff Attorney, Jessica Webster, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
“It’s past time we stop punishing students with disabilities with the use of harmful exclusionary discipline such as seclusion and suspension and instead provide schools with the training and resources to meet children’s needs.”
– Public Policy Coordinator, Laura Jean, PACER Center
“There is no evidence that secluding students results in improved behavior. But mountains of evidence show seclusion traumatizes students and can leave long-lasting emotional scars on our youngest learners. We should be talking about de-escalation, co-regulation, and training for staff so that they have the tools they need to support children in moments of crisis. Not returning to broken tools that we know don’t work.”
– Executive Director, Maren Christenson, Multicultural Autism Action Network
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Media Contacts:
Jessica Webster jlwebster@mnlsap.org
Lisa Ramirez lramirez@mylegalaid.org
Family Contact:
Maren Christenson maren.christenson@gmail.com