Texas was one of the first states where policy regulating restraint and seclusion in schools was passed. Yet, we continue to see the misuse of restraint and seclusion over the past 20 years. Drawing from journalistic accounts, advocacy group investigations and statements, policy analysis, and reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office I examine two questions: (1) How has the regulation of restraint and seclusion in special education in Texas changed over time? (2) How has journalism and advocacy helped to influence those changes? I find that despite regulating restraint and seclusion for over two decades, policy and legislation has proven its inability to properly protect students in special education, through continued misuse and underreporting. Previous legislation has failed to entirely ban restraint and seclusion, allowing for exceptions to be made for emergency situations. Journalism and advocacy groups highlight that continued use of restraint and seclusion in Texas schools hurts special education students.
I am a rising sophomore, pre-law student at Barnard College, Columbia University intending to major in Philosophy and minor in Spanish. My academic interests are civil rights law, ethics, intellectual history, education policy, and disability studies. As a Laidlaw scholar I draw from my academic interests and personal experiences to conduct research on the use of restraint and seclusion in special education. I am eager to use my research experience and education in my future law career to further social equality.
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