Legislation Affecting Children with Disabilities
Report Released on Use of Seclusion and Restraint
Report Released on the Seclusion and Restraint of Wisconsin Children: A press conference, convened by Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW), Wisconsin FACETS, and Wisconsin Family Ties (WFT), was held at the Wisconsin State Capitol in late April to announce the release of a new report entitled, Out of Darkness…Into the Light: New Approaches to Reducing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint with Wisconsin Children.
Out of Darkness…Into the Light exposes the tragedy of secluding and restraining Wisconsin children in schools and treatment settings throughout the state. It describes the ways in which Wisconsin children have been both emotionally and physically injured by such practices, including one child who died in restraints. It further describes actions taken by many other states to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint of children, and calls for legislative and administrative agency action to protect Wisconsin children from these dangerous practices.
Wisconsin Representative Sandy Pasch later announced that she has a bill in the drafting stage which calls for reducing the use of seclusion and restraint in Wisconsin schools, making it safer when it is used, and which encourages the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) as a tool to prevent the use of seclusion and restraint in Wisconsin schools and teach appropriate behavior.
Copies of the report, as well as an executive summary, are available in electronic format below:
Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Legislation—2009
For more information:
- Let Kids Hear
- Family Voices Issue Brief (updated 5/27/2009)
Update (May 2009): A bill to require insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for children (under age 18) passed the Wisconsin Legislature in late April. The Governor is expected to sign the bill after Memorial Day. The bill passed without many amendments and the bill’s lead sponsor, Senator Julie Lassa, and parent advocacy groups are pleased with the final legislation. Parent advocacy on this issue was critical to getting this bill introduced and passed through the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly.
Insurance Coverage for Treatment of Autism—2009
For more information:
- Autism Insurance Now
- Family Voices Issue Brief (updated 5/27/2009)