Within an hour of Autism Calgary submitting a letter to request Alberta Education to uphold Ministerial Order 006/2019 (Alberta Government’s ban on seclusion rooms,) Alberta’s Minister of Education rescinded the order.

In it’s place, our minister passed Ministerial Order (#039/2019) titled Standards for Seclusion and Physical Restraint in Alberta Schools. The news is discouraging for families in our community as this interim solution may lend to the perception that Alberta endorses a practice that should be viewed (at best) as a measure of last resort. There is a wealth of research to demonstrate that incidence reporting increases in hospital, clinical and community settings (like schools) where restraint and seclusion is an accepted practice. Evidence based models to support children with Autism highlight the importance of supporting children to learn to be independent in selecting their own strategies for emotional and sensory regulation (like sensory rooms.) Restraint and seclusion compromises the safety of all students, teachers and the individual with Autism.

While our community remains concerned about the perceptions of the new Ministerial order, we are encouraged by the minister’s commitment to work with the Autism community and other stakeholders to ensure that Alberta’s direction sincerely provides a safe learning environment for all students.

Autism Calgary, working together with Autism Society Alberta, Autism Society of Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Autism Edmonton, and Chinook Autism Society forwarded a letter to Education Minister Adriana LeGrange this afternoon (Friday, August 30, 2019,) with preliminary recommendations.  This letter highlights Alberta’s Autism Community Position on Seclusion/Restraint (2019 08 30 AUTISM position SeclusionAndRestraint in Schools Ltr)

What can you do?  Contact your MLA and request for Alberta Education to “provide a safe learning environment for all of Alberta’s children. The appearance of endorsing seclusion and restraint as a standardized practice will lead to increased incidences. Support evidence based practices in schools, and work with community to develop a cross ministerial framework for complex cases where restraint and seclusion becomes a measure of last resort.”