In Illinois, children as young as five, many with disabilities, have faced distressing experiences in isolation rooms within public schools. Reports reveal disturbing incidents where children scream, claw at walls, and even injure themselves out of sheer desperation. These isolation practices, often mistaken for safety measures, have been misused as punitive actions instead.
The Chicago Tribune highlighted over 20,000 instances of student isolation in Illinois public schools from 2017 to 2018 alone, shocking figures that went largely unmonitored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). In response to growing concerns, the ISBE issued an emergency order in late November, prohibiting such isolation practices. While time-outs remain permissible, they must occur under strict guidelines: trained staff must be present, doors must stay unlocked, and parents must be informed. Most importantly, these time-outs should only be used for safety or therapeutic reasons.
ProPublica Illinois, alongside the Tribune, uncovered that while 19 states have some regulations against isolation, only four have outright bans. Initially, I struggled to believe the accounts shared by parents of children with special needs. How can locking a student with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing issues in a secluded space be justified?
The inhumane treatment of these children isn’t isolated to Illinois. A distressing case from Washington involved an 11-year-old with autism who was made to work in a bathroom. His mother, Emily Carter, shared that unlike his previous school, which allowed him to work in a library, this new institution relegated him to a restroom. To exacerbate matters, he was even offered a camping mat to nap on the bathroom floor. After going public with her story, it quickly gained traction on social media.
As a parent of a child with special needs myself, I find the notion of isolation deeply troubling. During challenging periods, my child was never subjected to being confined in a locked room. Instead, a patient teacher would guide them outside or to a sensory room to help them regain composure before returning to class.
School should be a safe haven for all students. Unfortunately, children with special needs and children of color are often at a higher risk of facing unjust isolation or restraint. For instance, a six-year-old named Mia Johnson was arrested at school for a minor infraction—kicking. Instead of receiving appropriate support, she was taken to a juvenile detention facility, a traumatic experience that left lasting scars.
In addition to addressing student isolation, the ISBE is also cracking down on physical restraints. Their emergency order ensures that staff cannot impede a student’s ability to breathe or speak, establishing clearer guidelines for when physical restraint is permissible.
Alternatives for Supporting Students
So, what alternatives exist for helping students in need? Megan Parise, a school psychologist, suggests establishing designated “safe rooms” staffed by trained professionals. Here, students could decompress and learn coping strategies in a supportive environment. Schools should shift focus from punitive actions to proactive measures—replacing detention with meditation, promoting more recess for physical activity, and eliminating outdated practices like clip charts that shame students.
It’s crucial to recognize the challenges faced by children with special needs who work diligently to navigate their environments. Every school should offer a calming space paired with empathetic practices. Thankfully, Illinois is beginning to lead the way in creating positive changes for its students.
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Summary
Illinois has taken significant steps to end the harmful practice of isolating students, especially those with disabilities. The recent emergency order from the ISBE prohibits such actions and emphasizes a need for supportive, proactive measures in schools. Alternatives like safe rooms staffed by trained professionals can offer better environments for students in distress. It’s time for other states to follow Illinois’s lead in fostering safe and inclusive educational settings.
Keyphrase: Illinois student isolation practices
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