Dear Ms. Mehta,
We commend your coverage of this crucial topic: the need for adequately trained staff and appropriate crisis management protocols within schools. You deliver a straightforward account of the distressing incident in which a 9-year-old boy with autism was handcuffed by a police officer due to “acting out in the principal’s office.” When autism programs do not adopt evidence-based treatment plans and proactively prepare for crisis events, inappropriate and ineffective management of problem behavior can result.
The mother of this student stated that the educational system failed her son, complaining that school staff were not properly trained or educated in the management of children with disabilities. For children with autism and disruptive or aggressive behavior, it is imperative that protocols are in place for evaluating the behavior, creating a science-based treatment plan, and designating trained individuals to implement that plan. All special education programs should have at least several staff who have been trained in personal management protocols for crisis events. These restraint procedures are more appropriate and effective than police intervention. They are not meant to be aversive, painful, or punishing; but rather designed to keep everyone safe, including the person with a disability. Personal management procedures are used in conjunction with an evidence-based behavior intervention plan, and then discontinued as soon as the imminent threat to physical safety is gone. Most importantly, all of the procedures used in behavior management and crisis intervention for children with disabilities must be reviewed in detail with families, and consent obtained.
Additionally, the mother reported discrepancies between principal and officer account of the event, and this is certainly a concern. The education and treatment of individuals with autism must be transparent. Schools would be well-advised to adopt a protocol for incident reporting that involves documenting the crisis and the actions taken, and informing administration and parents in a timely manner.
Although schools in general have made significant progress in adopting effective and appropriate crisis management and incident reporting procedures, this incident implies that there is still a need within some schools for competently trained staff, scientifically validated behavior management strategies, and protocols for crisis management for individuals with autism. Thank you for reporting on this critically important issue; it is essential for parents of children with autism and school administrators to know what type of evidence-based intervention children with autism could—and should— be receiving.
Caitlin Reilly, MA, BCBA and Barbara Jamison, BA
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
