Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton

Take Action!

Urge your Senators to cosponsor S. 2860 and your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 4247: "The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act".

This new bill in Congress has been endorsed by the Epilepsy Foundation. The National Epilepsy Foundation is asking everyone to join in a National Call-in Day on Friday, February 26th to ask your Senators and Representative to cosponsor this legislation.

• Call your Senators and Representative via the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
• Ask for the offices of your US Senators and Representative (you may have to call the swithboard for each call)
• Ask to speak to the staff person working on education issues
• Identify yourself as a constituent
• Ask them to cosponsorHR 4247 or S.2860, legislation that preventsthe harmful use of restraint and seclusion in schools
• Or click here to send an e-mail

"The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act" (HR 4247 and S. 2860) is needed to protect children's health and safety in schools. The use of restraint and seclusion in schools is all too common and extremely harmful. Reports have detailed hundreds of abusive uses of the practice, most frequently on children aged 6-10 and disproportionately on children with disabilities like epilepsy.

H.R. 4247 and S. 2860 would limit, but not completely ban, the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. It would require states to develop policies for the use of restraint and seclusion and allow this extreme practice only in an emergency. The bills would also provide grants to better train school staff.

The bipartisan House version was introduced by Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). The Senate version was sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

The Epilepsy Foundation urges you to call and email your legislators and urge him/her to cosponsor S. 2860 and HR 4247.