Autism Alliance provides public comment to the State Board of Education calls for End of Harmful Seclusion and Restraint (August 12, 2025)
Autism Alliance of Michigan Public Comment
State Board of Education
August 12, 2025
Read here: 2025.0812 Autism Alliance Public Comment_State Board of Ed_Seclusion and Restraint
RE: Ending Harmful Seclusion and Restraint in Michigan Schools
Good afternoon board members, Superintendent, and department staff.
I’m Heather Eckner and I serve as the statewide director of education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan.
The Autism Alliance Education pillar advances a Whole Child vision for Michigan by catalyzing advocacy and engagement activities to move an equitable education agenda for children and youth with special education needs focused on funding reform, appropriate identification, access to interventions, system accountability, and decreasing disparities.
Over the past year, our organization has used this public comment time to elevate the voices of nearly 900 families who responded to the Special Education Experience Survey.
AAoM’s public comment has included:
– Elevating the findings and priorities of students and families through the Special Education Experience (SEE) Survey: Report to the Community.
– Highlighting AAoM’s call for comprehensive special education finance reform.
– Drawing attention to the low graduation rates of students with disabilities.
– Commenting on the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) IDEA application and assurances to the U.S. Department of Education.
– Challenging the overreliance on alternate assessments.
– Calling for the elimination of the Functional Independent tier of the MI-ACCESS.
In June, we called attention to Michigan’s alarming dropout crisis among students with disabilities—driven by patterns of exclusion, marginalization, and unmet need.
This month, we urge the Board to confront a deeply intertwined issue: the continued use of harmful and discriminatory seclusion and restraint practices in Michigan schools.
On July 3, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil rights settlement with Montcalm Area ISD after an investigation revealed that students with disabilities were being secluded and restrained more than 2,400 times during the review period—often not during emergencies, but in response to typical classroom behavior.
These violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act are not an outlier.
They reflect systemic failures that extend far beyond one district.
Our own Special Education Experience Survey findings reinforce this:
– 34% of families reported that their child had been restrained or secluded.
– 72% said it occurred in a non-emergency situation.
– 61% described lasting emotional trauma.
– And nearly 40% were not notified in a timely or transparent manner.
These findings make clear what many families already know: the safeguards Michigan put in place nearly a decade ago are not enough.
Rules alone do not protect students—implementation, oversight, and accountability do.
We urge the Board to take an active role in leading statewide reform as outlined in our recent policy brief: Ending Harmful Seclusion and Restraint in Michigan Schools
– Prohibit all forms of seclusion.
– Restrict restraint to true emergencies only—with robust oversight.
– Mandate trauma-informed training for all school staff.
– Ensure timely notification for families and public reporting of incidents.
– Establish local and regional oversight bodies that include family and advocate voices.
Michigan’s students deserve learning environments that are safe, respectful, and inclusive.
No student—regardless of disability—should be subjected to trauma in the name of discipline.
We are grateful for those drawing attention to these critical issues, and the Autism Alliance of Michigan stands ready to work in partnership to ensure that the harm documented in Montcalm is not repeated, or ignored, in districts across the state.
Thank you.
View the August 12, 2025 Michigan State Board of Education meeting –
AAoM’s public comments are at the start of the afternoon session:
Michigan State Board of Education Meeting for August 12, 2025 – Morning Session
Michigan State Board of Education Meeting for August 12, 2025 – Afternoon Session
About the Autism Alliance of Michigan
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) is a 501(c)(3) organization serving as a trusted ally and partner for thousands of families across the state. AAoM’s mission is to lead efforts to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people connected to autism across their lifespan. The organization’s Education pillar drives initiatives that address systemic barriers to education, focuses on student-centered advocacy, and educates families on related topics – working towards its goal to make Michigan a top 10 state for special education outcomes. For help finding resources, providers and information contact our AAoM Navigators at 877-463-2266 (AAOM) or email at navigator@aaomi.org. More information about AAoM’s Education pillar can be found at www.autismallianceofmichigan.org/education-initiatives.
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