Partners in Education Advocacy: HOME

Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc. (ODLC) is the federally funded protection and advocacy system for Oklahomans with disabilities. Over 90,000 students in Oklahoma are eligible for special education services.

ODLC designed and implemented a training program known as "Partners in Education Advocacy." Graduates are often called "PEA Pods," because they return to their urban and rural communities to provide assistance to parents and students.

The training program for lay advocates was initiated by ODLC in 2001. Participants are required to complete at least 130 hours of coursework over a period of eight months. Some graduates have completed an internship with an experienced special education attorney for one year. The course includes ethics, a variety of state and federal statutes, testing and evaluation, assistive technology, cultural competence, and other educational subjects.

Please read the "ethics" section of this website.

SECLUSION & RESTRAINT GUIDELINES IN OKLAHOMA

(1) Guidelines for Minimizing the Use of Physical Restraint for Students with Disabilities in Oklahoma; and

(2) Guidelines for Minimizing the Use of Seclusion for Students with Disabilities in Oklahoma

The following reporting forms are available from the SDE's website:

SDE Form 12 for reporting physical restraint

SDE Form 13 for reporting seclusion

LEARN ABOUT PBIS

National Technical Assistance Center for PBIS, http://www.pbis.org

Behavior Doctor (free books!), http://www.behaviordoctor.org

PROPOSED FEDERAL LEGISLATION ON SECLUSION & RESTRAINT IN SCHOOLS

Senator Harkin introduced a new piece of legislation addressing the use of restraint and seclusion in public schools, the Keeping our Students Safe Act, S. 2020. Press Release from NDRN

March 2012 - New NDRN Report

May 2012 - U. S. Department of Education Resource Document

GAO Report - Seclusions and Restraints: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers

“The Cost of Waiting” is a report from TASH detailing the consequences of not passing this legislation a year ago. You’re encouraged to download and share this report with your friends and networks. Report

RELEASE OF NATIONAL RESOLUTON FOR ENDING SCHOOL PUSHOUT

Press Release by DSC
ODLC's Letter
National Resolution

2915 Classen Blvd., 300 Cameron Building, OKC, OK 73106
Tel (405) 525-7755 (V/TDD) Fax (800) 880-7755 (V/TDD)

US ED issues Restraint and Seclusion Resource Document, May 2012

Press release -US Department of Education state-by-state restraint & seclusion information with a link to their 224-page report. Go to page 161 to read about Oklahoma.

Law center public comment on SDE's S/R guidelines

CEC Adopts New Policy on Physical R/S, September 2009; CCBD Issues Position Statement on Physical R/S in School Settings, July 2009 -- with two longer statements on restraint and seclusion.

Secretary Duncan asks states to review their guidelines for use of R/S Press Release Letter to SDE

Oklahoma State Department of Education - Guidelines for Minimizing Restraint and Guidelines for Minimizing Seclusion

MEDIA ALERT: National Disability Rights Network released shocking report on seclusion and restraint in U. S. schools; NDRN's Investigative Report on Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools, January 2009. Follow up Report in 2010. Updated Report in 2012.

Statement of Opposition to Restraint and Seclusion of Students with Disabilities in Public Schools by law center, with picture of seclusion room in urban schooland pictures of seclusion room in rural school

S/R: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers, May 29, 2009, GAO Report

Abuse in Schools Is Widespread, CBS News

Schools Restrain, USA Today

CNN Article "Children Forced into Cell-Like Seclusion Rooms," December 2008

Take law center restraint survey, click here

Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and Seclusion (APRAIS)

PBIS: Effective Discipline for Student Success -- Reducing Student and Teacher Dropout Rates, 2008.

Law center opposes legislatively-created restriction placed on children with mental illness who live in the community in a therapeutic foster home, read memo

FTC Facts for Consumers, Considering a Private Residential Treatment Program for a Troubled Teen? Questions for Parents and Guardians to Ask, July, 2008.

NICHCY: What's New?

Wrightslaw - The Special Ed Advocate - all issues

Wrightslaw - Free Online Newsletters

"Partners in Education" is a six-hour self-directed e-learning course to help parents better understand and maximize the benefits of special education services and inclusion for their children. The course has been updated to reflect IDEA 2004





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