
A seclusion room in an Alberta school
“This was inhumane. This was treating him like an animal,” said Marcy Oakes. “This” was, and is, an exclusion room, in this instance one in the Clover Bar Junior High School, part of the Elk Island Public Schools, in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. According to Marcy Oakes and Warren Henschel, in 2015, their then-13-year-old son, Aidan, was dumped in a seclusion room. At some point later, someone looked in, and saw Aidan naked and covered in feces. The school took a photo, sent it to the parents, and told them to come fetch their son. Henschel remembers: “I could hear my son quietly whimpering. When I looked inside the room, it’s hard to describe my feelings.” Aidan is non-verbal and lives with autism and developmental disabilities. Mary Oakes explains, “My son does not take his clothes off willingly in a room unless he has been taught that. In the back of my mind, I will never know – because he can’t speak – how much they put him in that room.” Marcy Oakes and Warren Henschel are suing the Alberta government, the Elk Island Public School Board, the school’s principal, and the teacher. The School Board says it will “strongly defend the actions of our staff”. Who on the School Board strongly defends the lives of its students?
As a result of Aidan’s story, and others similar and worse, Inclusion Alberta launched an online survey to find out what exactly is going on in Alberta’s school systems. There’s no hard data on children being placed in seclusion rooms. The schools don’t keep records; the schools aren’t mandated to keep records. Additionally, there’s no set policy, other than vague “as a last resort” language, concerning the use of seclusion rooms. Just last week, Alberta Education Minister David Eggen announced that he expects the province to issue guidelines concerning the use of seclusion rooms within “a matter of weeks.” As of now, there’s only verbal night and fog. It’s not even clear if the Alberta government knows how many seclusion rooms there are, and what makes a seclusion room a seclusion room.
According to Bruce Uditsky, CEO Emeritus of Inclusion Alberta, speaking of the treatment Aidan suffered, “It’s not just about the use of seclusion in this instance; it’s about the abandonment and neglect and abuse that any of us would typically understand in any other circumstances, and how come it’s acceptable and tolerated in a school where we expect children to be safe and we’re to trust educators.”
Story after story, expert after expert, year in and year out, argue that seclusion rooms only serve to traumatize children and that there are better, evidence-proven ways of addressing `difficult behaviors.’ This year began with New Zealand outlawing the use of seclusion rooms in schools. In May 2018, Inclusion BC reported extensive and systemic use of seclusion rooms across British Columbia. This year’s report was a follow-up to a report in 2013, that led to voluntary guidelines finally being passed in 2015. According to Inclusion BC, only in three British Columbian school boards has adopted any policy concerning constraint and seclusion. And now it’s September, and Alberta “discovers” its lack of guidelines, which is it say, its policy of refusal.
Recently, a team of Canadian researchers studied “children’s moral experiences of crisis management in a child mental health setting.” The researchers asked children 12 and under living with severe disruptive disorders what they thought of the use of restraints and seclusion: “Children considered restraints and seclusion could help them feel safe in certain instances, for example if another child was being aggressive towards them or in exceptional cases to prevent self-injury. However, their own experiences of being restrained were predominantly negative, especially if not knowing the reason for their use, which they then found unfair. Some of the children emphasized the punitive nature of the use of restraints and seclusion, and most children disagreed with these practices when used as a punishment. Children’s perspectives also highlighted the limits of the use of a uniform de-escalation approach by the staff to manage crises. Children considered discussing with the staff and developing a relationship with them as more helpful in case of a crisis then the use of a de-escalation approach or coercive strategies.”
Seclusion rooms become part of the regular “arsenal” of education in response to budgets and resources. Staff are insufficiently trained to work with diverse populations, as the populations become increasingly diverse. Solitary confinement cells are built and children are thrown in. What do children learn in that process? Who cares? Who asks the children what they think? “This was inhumane. This was treating him like an animal.”
(Photo Credit: Sherwood Park News / Inclusion Alberta)
Regulation urged for seclusion and restraint practices https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0926/998114-restraint_and_seclusion/
Hundreds respond to Alberta seclusion room survey https://www.660citynews.com/video/2018/10/12/hundreds-respond-to-alberta-seclusion-room-survey/
Early results of seclusion room survey alarming, advocacy group says https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/seclusion-room-survey-school-1.4857945
Education minister appoints group to draft school seclusion guidelines https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/education-minister-appoints-group-to-draft-school-seclusion-guidelines
‘No child should face that at school’: Advocates call for action on seclusion rooms https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/no-child-should-face-that-at-school-advocates-call-for-action-on-seclusion-rooms-1.4154767
It’s time for a national conversation on seclusion rooms https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-its-time-for-a-national-conversation-on-seclusion-rooms
Seclusion rooms already a thing of the past here https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2018/10/31/seclusion-rooms-already-a-thing-of-the-past-here/
RVS Responds To Government Review Of Seclusion Rooms https://discoverairdrie.com/local/rvs-responds-to-government-review-of-seclusion-rooms
Put an end to the use of seclusion rooms for children http://troymedia.com/2018/11/04/seclusion-rooms-kids/
Vancouver teacher is schooling educators on the value of inclusive classrooms https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-vancouver-teacher-is-schooling-educators-on-the-value-of-inclusive/
‘It was handled horribly’: Child with autism shut in school seclusion room https://bc.ctvnews.ca/it-was-handled-horribly-child-with-autism-shut-in-school-seclusion-room-1.4184017
Son with autism restrained and secluded at school: Maple Ridge mom https://www.citynews1130.com/2018/11/19/son-autism-restrained-secluded-school-maple-ridge/
Alberta is putting kids at risk by not changing seclusion room policy, disability advocates say https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/02/15/alberta-is-putting-kids-at-risk-by-not-changing-seclusion-room-policy-disability-advocates-say.html
Renewed calls to ban seclusion rooms in Alta. schools https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/renewed-calls-to-ban-seclusion-rooms-in-alta-schools-1.4299531
Inclusion Alberta slams province’s draft guidelines on seclusion rooms https://edmontonsun.com/news/local-news/inclusion-alberta-not-satisfied-with-provinces-draft-guidelines-on-seclusion-rooms/wcm/0a80b358-0182-4d6a-8987-6afaf8cc8298/
Watch: Parents discuss use of school seclusion rooms https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/watch-parents-discuss-use-of-school-seclusion-rooms-and-restraints-for-students-with-disabilities/
Alberta urged to ban or regulate restraining special-needs children at school https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-inclusion-alberta-calls-on-province-to-govern-use-of-seclusion/
Education minister to ban seclusion rooms in Alberta as of September https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/02/22/education-minister-to-ban-seclusion-rooms-in-alberta-as-of-september.html
Seclusion rooms to be banned across Alberta: Education minister https://globalnews.ca/news/4989506/alberta-school-seclusion-rooms-banned-david-eggen/
Seclusion rooms to be banned in Alberta by start of next school year https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/eggen-to-ban-seclusion-rooms-1.5030477
`Ban seclusion rooms now’, says Edmonton mom https://www.660citynews.com/video/2019/02/25/ban-seclusion-rooms-now-says-edmonton-mom/
Education minister Eggen bans seclusion rooms in Alberta schools https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/education-minister-bans-seclusion-rooms-in-alberta-schools/wcm/ea4b50b4-895e-4aac-a294-1d2ee7d96bca/
Seclusion room ban takes effect Sept. 1 https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/seclusion-room-ban-takes-effect-sept-1-1.4318773
With six months until the deadline, seclusion room ban leaves lingering questions for educators https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/03/07/seclusion-room-ban-leaves-lingering-questions-for-educators-with-six-months-until-deadline.html
Alberta school boards call on government to reconsider seclusion room ban https://globalnews.ca/news/5806763/alberta-school-boards-seclusion-room-ban-reversal/
Four Alberta school boards call on province to rescind seclusion room ban https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/08/23/four-alberta-school-boards-call-on-province-to-rescind-seclusion-room-ban.html
Alberta lifts ban on seclusion rooms in schools, will establish new rules for use https://globalnews.ca/news/5831586/alberta-seclusion-room-ban-lifted/
‘It can cause trauma’: Autism services group concerned after education minister lifts seclusion room ban https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/it-can-cause-trauma-autism-services-group-concerned-after-education-minister-lifts-seclusion-room-ban/
Seclusion room ban lifted https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/news/local-news/seclusion-room-ban-lifted/
Seclusion should be a last resort, and be ultimately eliminated, says Edmonton public school board https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/seclusion-should-be-a-last-resort-and-be-ultimately-eliminated-says-edmonton-public-school-board/
Alberta lifts ban on school seclusion rooms https://www.cos-mag.com/psychological-health-safety/41202-alberta-lifts-ban-on-school-seclusion-rooms/
Seclusion rooms used over 700 times in 1 month at Edmonton public schools: report https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/district-wide-seclusion-room-report-1.5310765
Seclusion rooms used more than 700 times in September: Report to public school board https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/seclusion-rooms-used-more-than-700-times-in-september-report-to-public-school-board/
Seclusion rooms used over 700 times in 1 month: EPSB https://edmonton.citynews.ca/video/2019/10/06/seclusion-rooms-used-over-700-times-in-1-month-epsb/
Edmonton Public seclusion rooms used over 700 times in first month of the school year – Edmonton https://globalnews.ca/news/6000661/edmonton-public-seclusion-rooms-september-numbers/
Public school board votes against setting deadline on ending use of seclusion rooms https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/public-school-board-votes-against-setting-deadline-on-eliminating-use-of-seclusion-rooms/
Seclusion room use shows a “failure of imagination”: advocate https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/seclusion-room-use-shows-a-failure-of-imagination-advocate/
Parents and teachers not aware of seclusion room alternatives, expert says https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/parents-teachers-not-aware-of-seclusion-room-alternatives-expert-says-1.5315597
Province releases new standards to prevent misuse of seclusion rooms at Alberta schools https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2019/10/23/province-releases-new-standards-to-prevent-misuse-of-seclusion-rooms-at-alberta-schools.html
New seclusion room guidelines to take effect in Alberta Nov. 1 https://globalnews.ca/news/6071628/alberta-government-seclusion-room-guidelines/
Alberta announces new seclusion room guidelines https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/watch-alberta-announces-new-seclusion-room-guidelines/
Parents of autistic child in seclusion room lawsuit can’t sue the province: appeal court https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/parents-of-autistic-child-in-seclusion-room-lawsuit-cant-sue-the-province-appeal-court/
Alberta parents lose appeal over school putting son in seclusion room http://nationalpost.com/wcm/de28b2dd-85cb-4822-8d2b-01f523d9ef81
Mother of Alberta student locked in seclusion room weighs options after losing appeal https://globalnews.ca/news/6514064/alberta-seclusion-room-lawsuit-appeal-education/
Latest data shows seclusion rooms used hundreds of times in Edmonton Public Schools http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/latest-data-shows-seclusion-rooms-used-hundreds-of-times-in-edmonton-public-schools/
Restraining and secluding students with disabilities is an urgent human rights issue https://theconversation.com/restraining-and-secluding-students-with-disabilities-is-an-urgent-human-rights-issue-141929
Proposed class-action lawsuit filed over alleged use of holds, seclusion at Whitehorse elementry https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/proposed-class-action-lawsuit-whitehorse-school-1.6636128