Congresswoman Louise,
Thank you so much for the opportunity you have given Sam to be your "Official" Campaign Photographer. One of the lessons that you have taught him is that with hard work and dedication you can be successful. I would like to take a few minutes of your time to make you aware of what is happening to your personal photographer at the Morgan Campus #1 BOCES. There is a windowless closet on the second floor at the school between the bathroom and the classroom. It has a dirty floor where kids become upset to the point where they urinate. The door has a 4x4 window with a gray film and the last time I saw the door, the window was cracked. Sam has been restrained on multiple occasions at this school. Last year Sam reported to me that while he was trying to get out of the closet the security guard opened up the door and pushed him to the ground. This year he said that the security guard crossed his arms around him, lifted him off the ground, took him to the closet, opened up the door, turned and dropped him to the ground. I have tried to investigate but Sam isn't talking. In his words, "It wouldn't help." My child feels helpless in a school that is supposed to be there to help him.
Unfortunately, the same practice happened to Sam in first grade at the Longridge School in Greece. Their Time Out Closet with the tiny window, the last time Sam was six years old, was just passed the office. I personally witnessed three men on top of Sam face down while waiting for the police to make a Mental Hygiene Arrest. Sam spent sixteen days in a psychiatric institution and he still remembers that time as when "He was bad".
Sam is a depressed boy and this is the reason why I work so hard on his photography. I have to work twice as hard every time the school tears him down. His depression is at an all time high this year and it is because he is angry and he says "bad things always happen to me."
I have included the link to the ABC News investigation dated November 30, 2012 that describes harmful practices on our children. If there is one thing you can do for me, it would be to watch this video. Often times these practices are used on our children with Autism. The last death that I am aware of happened to 16 year old Corey Foster from New York City last April. I grieve with his Mom, Sheila Foster, who will no longer be able to hug her child. I fear for my son on a daily basis. I want to feel safe that my child will return home to me.
http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/blog/abc-news-investigation-students-hurt -dying-after-being-restrained
It is written in the ABC Report: A recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools. This is the link to the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/issue/seclusion-restraint
I applaud the efforts by Democratic lawmakers in Congress to pass legislation that would prohibit such dangerous interventions. In 2011, Rep. George Miller, the senior Democrat on the committee, re-introduced The Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 1381). The Bill needs to be reintroduced so that legislation can be created for national standards for the safety of children in schools. There needs to be a process of collecting data in a centralized registry where research happens for better practices based on the statistics. As it stand now, us parents fear for our children's safety each day that we send our kids to school. This is a well kept secret that needs to be spoken about.
I am personally on facebook pages of parents trying to make changes. Parents also contact me to see what can be done. I have seen too many photos of bruised children and have heard too many stories of children not coming home to their parents. The deaths of our children go unnoticed.
I would like to leave you with a story of a Mom in Ohio. Her name is Helena Stephenson. She is a survivor of restraints and seclusions. This is the link to her story.
http://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/news/restraint-seclusion-testimony-osbe-marc h-2012
If you can help in anyway, I would be grateful.
The picture I have included was taken by Carol Klino, the Photojournalism student that you met on Friday. It was taken last week.
Thank you,
Debra Pierce Bellare, Sam's Mom
Congresswoman Louise,
This is a video of Paula Cummings, an advocate at St. Joseph Villa.
This is her presentation on the issue of restraints and the need for better regulations to keep our kids safe. It is a wonderful explanation of what is needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT682h4RNlo
It would be my honor if Paula and I could visit your office to talk about these issues.
Sincerely,
Debra Pierce Bellare
