It's not too late

If you care even a little about special needs students you are probably aware of all sorts of horror stories when it comes to restraints and seclusion. I've posted about Zakh Price, but this is an issue that affects many students and worries many more parents (myself included).

Today is National Call-In Day for H.R.4247 and S.2860. These bills will help prevent abuse of students in schools. From Maternal Instincts Blog:

Please join in the National Call-In Day on Thursday, January 21st (and invite your friends, family and other networks to do the same!) to tell your members of Congress to support the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247/S.2860) introduced last month by Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) as well as Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). This legislation would provide students with and without disabilities vital protections against abuse in schools.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 on Thursday, January 21st and ask for the offices of your US Senators and Representatives. [To find out the names of your US Senators and Representative, visit www.congress.org and type in your zip code.]

Ask to speak to the person working on education issues. Identify yourself as a constituent and indicate the organization that you represent (if any). Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to take part too!

The message:

For your Senator: “ I am calling to urge (your Senator) to cosponsor S.2860, legislation preventing harmful use of restraint and seclusion in schools.”

For your Representative: “I am calling to urge (your Representative) to cosponsor HR 4247, legislation preventing harmful use of restraint and seclusion in schools.”

Increasing congressional support for these bills will help move them through the legislative process towards enactment. Please call on January 21, 2010 and ask your friends and family to join you. If you are interested in doing more, please e-mail info@autisticadvocacy.org for more information about how you can arrange a meeting with your representatives to explain why this bill is essential, or visit www.tash.org/aprais to learn more.

I hate phones and I hate calling offices and people I don't know, but I made my three calls.