Alberta bans seclusion rooms
Posted March 1, 2019 12:10 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — The province is officially moving ahead with banning seclusion rooms, saying schools in Alberta must have them decommissioned by Sept. 1.
Officials will complete inspections of schools to ensure compliance and figure out just how many of these rooms exist, which are used to help calm down children with special needs.
“As a parent and a former teacher, I’ve been disturbed by some of the incidents I’ve heard about involving seclusion rooms,” stated Education Minister David Eggen. “Our government believes schools must be safe and caring places for all students to learn – especially the most vulnerable. I want to thank the members of the working group I appointed to advise me on this issue. They made it clear that new guidelines alone were not sufficient to limit the use of these rooms and their advocacy helped shape the decision to sign the order.”
Last October, Minister Eggen appointed a working group of parents, teachers and experts to advise the government on drafting new guidelines for the use of seclusion rooms in schools.
WATCH: Hundreds respond to Alberta seclusion room survey
Through this ministerial order, exceptions will also be allowed, if school boards get permission from parents of special-needs students.
