ERIC Number: EJ1478098
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2325-7466
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Seclusion and Restraint: A Scoping Review of the Peer-Reviewed Published Literature since the GAO Congressional Hearing of 2009 through the End of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
Kristina E. Ingles; Heather M. Dulas; Humberto Peña Jr.; Sarah Nichols; Elliott McFarlane; Megan Benzel; Lisa Bowman-Perrott
Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, p53-87 2025
Aversive procedures such as seclusion and restraint are generally viewed as emergency only procedures in school settings. However, they are still used too often to respond to student behaviors in schools. The purpose of this scoping review was to determine which types of documents have been published in peer-reviewed journals, the degree of progress that has been made toward the reduction in the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraints, and how these practices have impacted students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and/or emotional disturbance (ED). Our summary includes the type of article, antecedent and preventative variables, parent and student perspectives, policies, preventative measures, and legal cases in the literature across 32 peer-reviewed articles from 2009 to 2022. Key findings reveal an increase in the use of seclusion and restraint procedures, despite growing awareness and attention within the education sector. Additionally, the ongoing lack of staff training in emergency procedures suggest that the small number of staff employing these measures may be causing greater harm than previously reported in prior years. Further, we found individuals with disabilities (in particular students ED) and students of color or with linguistic diversity were much more likely to be secluded or restrained in school than their peers. Finally, the varied documents present within the peer-reviewed literature suggest an ongoing interest in advocating for students and their families who have experienced seclusion and/or restraints in school settings. Recommendations for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
Descriptors: Punishment, Discipline, Student Behavior, Legal Responsibility, Students with Disabilities, Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Disorders, Emergency Programs, School Personnel, Competence, Minority Group Students, At Risk Students, Elementary Secondary Education, Student Rights, Federal Legislation, Court Litigation, Educational Legislation, Equal Education, Civil Rights Legislation
American Academy of Special Education Professionals. 3642 East Sunnydale Drive, Chandler Heights, AZ 85142. Tel: 800-754-4421; Fax: 800-424-0371; e-mail: editor@aasep.org; Web site: http://www.aasep.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Education for All Handicapped Children Act; Americans with Disabilities Act 1990; No Child Left Behind Act 2001
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A