A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.
A seclusion room by any other name…is still a seclusion room.
Me. And Shakespeare.
Did you know that out of all the (reported) incidents of restraint and seclusion or seclusion rooms, that 75% of them were kids with disabilities? Yes, true story.
And, remember that kids with IEPs only make up about 15% of the student population. Yet they make up 75% of restraint and seclusion incidents? That’s not right.
Today there is another expose article about restraint and seclusion (in the grid of related articles below). So, once again, it’s all the chatter on social media. Among some of the things I’ve heard from parents are, “I have it on my IEP and I’d never allow my child in a seclusion room.”
But here’s the thing. You may not know. Because no one calls them seclusion rooms. Even though that’s what they are.
Seclusion Rooms
Mind you, in many states, seclusion is still legal. And, if it’s legal, why not own it? I mean, seriously. If this is your school district’s philosophy–that using seclusion rooms work–then own it. Call it what it is.
I mean, if you believe in the philosophy and think that it actually helps kids, why not shout it from the mountain top? Why are you hiding your seclusion room practices with fun names?
If your child has mentioned any of these to you, there’s a chance that he/she is being held in a seclusion room. Because schools never call them seclusion rooms.
Other Names for Seclusion Rooms
- De-escalation room
- Cool Down Room
- Blue Room
- Quiet Room
- Safe room
- Timeout room
- Reflection Room
- Calming Room/Calm Down Room
- Special Room
- Thinking Room
- Behavior Room
- Consequence Room
- Solitude Room
- Privacy Room
- Sitting Room
- Safe Space
- Meditation Room
- Mindfulness Room
- Learning Room
- Sensory Room/Sensory Cave (but please don’t freak out if your child goes there with an OT or something and it’s an actual sensory room that benefits your child)
- Accountability Room
- Contemplation Room
- (color of paint) Room
- Introspection Room
- Study Room
- The Peace Room (yes, really)
- The Content Room
- Protection Room
- Safe Shelter
- Caution Corner
- The Trust Room (seriously?)
- Personal Safety Room
- Quiet Space
- Quiet Corner
- Silence Room
- Quiet Room
- Safe Space
- Calm Room
- Reflection Room
- Timeout Room
- Serenity Space
- Comfort Room
- Tranquility Room
- Solitude Space
- Peace Room
- Contemplation Room
- Retreat Room
- Sanctuary Space
- Relaxation Room
- Zen Den (my personal favorite)
Seclusion Room Reporting
So, are schools required to report when they use seclusion rooms?
The laws and regulations regarding the use of seclusion rooms vary by state. In some places, schools are required to report their use of seclusion rooms, while in others, reporting may not be mandatory or the requirements may be less stringent.
It’s essential to consult the specific laws and regulations in your area to determine the reporting requirements for schools regarding the use of seclusion rooms. Additionally, many school districts have their own policies and procedures regarding the use of seclusion rooms, which may include reporting protocols.
But again, this is where a school might say, “He wasn’t in a seclusion room. He was in the zen den because he was having a bad day.”
Yes, Kids have died in Seclusion Rooms.
The data is astounding. And the stories are horrific.
Sometimes it is against the law and sometimes seclusion rooms are perfectly legal. Unfortunately for kids, it varies by state. And, use varies by color, race and disability.
It seems no child is too young. Stories of kids as young as 3. I suppose it would be 2 if IDEA put them in schools at 2, but it doesn’t.
How do you know if your child is being held in a seclusion room?
Well, except for the non-verbal students, ask them.
I mean, don’t ask them every day, “Hey, so were you in the seclusion room today?”
But you can ask them about their day, and what different things they did and so on.
The whole reason I’m providing this list is so that if your child says, “I went into the Comfort Corner today,” you can ask more about it. Your ears should perk up when they say things like this.
What parents can do about Restraint and Seclusion.
I have a whole separate post about how to talk with your IEP team about Restraint and Seclusion.
Research PBIS and ask your school board to implement it.
Remember, kids do well when they can.
