We are frustrated to hear of the use of handcuffs on a Black elementary school girl with a disability in South Carolina.
While we understand that the administrators were concerned about the safety of all students, restraints are not the most effective or safest option for diffusing a situation.
Unfortunately, these situations are all too common, and the use of inappropriate restraints and punishments contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. School administrators, teachers, bus drivers, and resource officers must receive proper training on working with youth with disabilities and honor the safety plans they have previously put in place.
We call on all South Carolina schools and districts to stop the harmful practice of restraining students with disabilities.