ABA Harms. More evidence: "ABA therapy was associated with a greater use of acute mental health services; autistic youth in the ABA group had an overall risk that was 30% higher for mental health hospitalizations" journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

If no one objects, an English child will die from restraint in a school. Another will live with lifelong trauma from isolation and seclusion. Silence protects systems, not children. Speaking out is not chaos, it’s conscience. #AgainstRestraint #PandemicOfPunishment #ShineOnMax

Every system has its Epsteins, those who harm children, and its enablers who say “no harm done.” #AgainstRestraint

🧵Thank you to everyone who’s reached out about todays Children Mental Health Advocacy Conference presentation. The ladies have received many kind personal messages, and we’ve also seen a flood of supportive messages sent to us here on social media. We’ll make sure every one of them is passed along

“The assumption that simply integrating autistic students into mainstream settings guarantees inclusion is not only misleading, but harmful. As many advocates warn, true inclusion demands a fundamental shift in attitudes, environments and policies.” theconversation.com/many-autisti... #inclusion

A former doorman from Blyth teaching parents? You couldn’t make it up. What families need is real training on preventing or stopping escalation in the first place, not this circus! Only in England .. sigh www.bbc.com/news/article...

Being “interest-led” isn’t enough. Monotropism means honouring deep attention, autonomy & sensory safety, not weaponising interests for compliance. https://autisticrealms.com/why-interest-led-isnt-enough-embracing-monotropism-neuro-affirming-practice/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Just over a week to go! We’re looking forward to presenting “Held Down, Held Back: Restraint and Seclusion in England’s Schools” for Lives in the Balance with Dr. Ross Greene on October 21, 2025. It’s free to attend, can sign up here: tinyurl.com/2sadbes7 @livesinthebalance.bsky.social #CMHAC25

“This administration seems to care a lot about autism as a supposed epidemic,” said Colin Killick, the executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “It does not seem to care much at all about autistic people.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/u...

🚨 Leading autism and disability organizations, led by ASAN, have issued a united call for decision-making grounded in quality science and compassion. We are proud to be signatories to this statement. 🧵 autisticadvocacy.org/2025/09/lead...

In USA Today, Colin Killick, Executive Director of ASAN, calls out Trump and RFK Jr. for treating autism like a “plague to be eradicated.” www.usatoday.com/story/opinio... There is no autism epidemic — autistic people need services, respect, and inclusion, not harmful “cures” or budget cuts.

Has your child faced removal, isolation, or seclusion in an English school? Share your story in our anonymous survey. Link in comments. #AgainstRestraint

To all the advocates, our friends and coalition partners: most of the real work does not happen on social media or in the spotlight. Over the Labor Day weekend, while many paused to rest, you kept going. With state legislative sessions about to open, the work continues, in the strategy calls ..

Advocacy is the bridge between injustice and action. It transforms silence into voice and resistance into change. #AgainstRestraint

Here is the page with ideas for alternatives to ABA from @stimpunks.org stimpunks.org/why/alternat...

Very proud to be working with @stimpunks.org and helping this resource evolve. Important work for our community. Thank you for resharing @thinkingautism.com

Advocacy needs leaders. Those who lead create change. Those who follow only echo it. Be the one who lights the path, not the one walking in someone else’s shadow. Choose to lead. 🧡

🧵 We’re honored to share that ICARS will be presenting at this year’s Children’s Mental Health Advocacy Conference, hosted by Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance, on October 21, 2025. 📅 Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 📍 Online 🔗 Register here: events.zoom.us/ev/Ahjf2KSya...

We warned them. They ignored it. Children continue to suffer. In April 2025, ICARS sent a 6-page evidence submission to the Equality and Human Rights Commission calling for an investigation into the Witherslack Group. A thread 🧵

Vulnerable children have been left with “terrible” injuries and trauma because of their treatment by staff at a taxpayer-funded private special school, The i Paper has been told 🔴 @KeithCooper1973 reports trib.al/wEssfQZ

“It was uncomfortable and painful. I was scared.” Former pupil describes long, repeated restraints and watching classmates scream in pain at Bramley Hill School run by the Witherslack Group. @theipaper.com @kijcooper1973.bsky.social #AgainstRestraint

The children have spoken. England's children are telling the world what happened to them. It’s time England's lawmakers started listening and acting. #AgainstRestraint

“Two people grabbed my arms and dragged me — that was the worst.” 10-year-old recounts restraint at taxpayer-funded special school run by Witherslack Group. #AgainstRestraint @kijcooper1973.bsky.social @theipaper.com #AgainstRestraint

The children have spoken. This article brings to mind Paris Hilton standing outside Provo Canyon School, holding a sign that read: “The kids you abuse you today will be the ones that take you down tomorrow.” It’s time England's lawmakers started listening — and acting. #AgainstRestraint

“Daily restraint. Head slammed to the floor.” Mother demands closure of taxpayer-funded special school run by Abu Dhabi-owned Witherslack Group. @kijcooper1973.bsky.social @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/news/send-pu...

How restraint in schools is traumatising children with SEND and injuring teachers inews.co.uk/news/restrai...

Pupils traumatised by restraint in schools failed by 'wishy washy' guidance inews.co.uk/news/educati...

Children ‘at risk of harm’ in SEND schools charging taxpayer fees of up to £116k (Febuary 2025) inews.co.uk/news/educati...

🚨 Has your child experienced isolation booths, seclusion, or removal rooms in an English school? 📝 Take the survey: forms.gle/BgwEi281RDpt... We’re gathering lived experience to inform policy, drive advocacy, and raise international awareness of what is happening across England. Please share!

This DeafBlind Awareness Week (23–29 June 2025), we honour the DeafBlind community. DeafBlindness is a distinct experience, with unique ways of navigating, connecting, and engaging with the world. Access, support, and dignity matter. #DeafBlindAwarenessWeek #DBAW25

Delighted to support Neurodiverse Connection in their new campaign ‘AGAINST PBS & ABA’. In part 1 of this blog I explore the harmful impact PBS can have on Neurodivergent young people in educational settings. Follow for part 2 published Friday 27th June! ndconnection.co.uk/blog/why-pbs...

🧵This is a 50 second segment of a school restraint incident, which is about 7 minutes total. The child’s legs appear to give way, something that appears to happen more than once in full incident. Child claims he told staff “he couldn’t breathe." www.tiktok.com/@sorina0707/...

🧵What Counts as "Reasonable Force" in England's Schools? This English school’s behaviour policy admits there’s no legal definition of “reasonable force” as we have cited over and over. Yet staff are expected to know when and how to use it in what would constitute a “serious incident.”

BOOM! Town begins process to revoke business license for troubled-teen [email protected] @labefana.bsky.social @sgolightley.bsky.social @yep4rights.bsky.social @againstrestraint.com @tktk.bsky.social @dawnjpostesq.bsky.social @annettesmith.bsky.social www.waff.com/2025/04/15/c...

A primary school child was left alone in a school toilet for 3+ hrs. No food. No water. Staff lied. There’ll be hearings. But under new guidance? Nothing changes for kids—just more £ for the Restraint Industrial Complex. #AgainstRestraint bit.ly/3RdF2Onint

This is what £70,000 of taxpayers’ money on ‘de-escalation and restraint’ training gets you. ICARS obtained this data via FOI (2018–2023) and submitted it to the SEND National Crisis Inquiry. Another disabled child restrained. This is systemic. Gov’t must act. www.bbc.com/news/article...

🧵 In an English classroom governed by rigid behaviour policies, a child’s distress is overlooked, not because no one sees her, but because the system doesn't allow space for understanding it. Her torn drawing is more than sadness, it’s the fallout of punitive behaviour policies 👇 #AgainstRestraint

Life-threatening restraints are still allowed in England’s schools. What is allowed for "good order and discipline" leaves disabled children in danger. There is no real safety net — only risk. #AgainstRestraint

In England, “good order and discipline” are used to justify restraint, seclusion / isolation. Disabled children are harmed — not helped — by this abuse of power. Manifestation of disability is not bad behaviour. #AgainstRestraint

🔴♾ For the month of April, ICARS turns red in solidarity with the #RedInstead movement. April is Autism Acceptance Month — some communities may also call it Autism Inclusion Month ICARS use red, gold, and infinity symbols to uplift the autistic community and challenge ableist systems.

🌍♾️ It’s World Autism Acceptance Day 2025. At ICARS, we stand for acceptance, not just awareness — and we do NOT use puzzle pieces. We proudly use the red and gold infinity symbols instead. 🔴 Red: Autistic pride, power, and self-advocacy 💛 Gold: "Au" = Autism = valuable, brilliant, worthy 🧵

"I decided I'd rather die than be in isolation because of the mood it left me in. "I felt alone and trapped at school for such a long time that I felt as though it would be best, as no-one seemed to care anyway." www.bbc.com/news/educati...

Behind every hold, there’s a child. A family. A story that deserves to be heard. Join us in April to uncover #WhatsBehindTheHold and advocate for a safer future for every child. #AgainstRestraint

If harm keeps happening, it’s not a system that’s broken — it’s a system working exactly as designed. Restraint and seclusion aren’t accidental. They’re embedded. Time to dismantle the machine. 🧡 #WhatsBehindTheHold #AgainstRestraint

Twenty-five years ago Congress adopted comprehensive nationwide reforms to curb the abusive and deadly use of restraints. We know, tho, that the rights of vulnerable ppl are often put at risk. Don’t let the anti-science know-nothings at work today put young, vulnerable in danger

Coming April 2025: The “What’s Behind the Hold” Survey We’re calling on families in England to share their lived experience of the training behind restraint and seclusion in English schools. Because behind every hold, there’s a child A family A story that deserves to be heard #WhatsBehindTheHold

If these restraint techniques are “safe,” why is this English Multi Academy Trust monitoring children’s breathing during use? This shows the risk to life for the disabled and neurodivergent children they’re used on. When breathing must be monitored, safety is already compromised. #AgainstRestraint

The abusive use of restraints stems directly from a lack of training and oversight. It puts vulnerable ppl at grave risk. The character of a society is always illustrated in how it protects vulnerable ppl. Or how it does not.