Each year, the Diane J. Lipton Memorial Cal-TASH Award is given to an individual who has shown outstanding commitment and effort in systems level advocacy to promote policy that upholds the rights of individuals with disabilities, particularly children and youth, in inclusive schools and communities. It should come as no surprise, then, that U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) was the most recent recipient of this award.
Rep. Miller introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that, for the first time, would establish a baseline of protections against abusive restraint and seclusion practices in schools. This legislation, the Keeping All Students Safe Act, passed with broad support in March 2010. Unfortunately, the Senate counterpart was not as successful. Still, Miller’s resolve to protect our nation’s students from abuse is evident:
Let me assure you – we’re not finished. I remain committed to ending the inappropriate seclusion and restraints in our schools. This is just the beginning. All children should be safe in school and parents deserve this assurance as well.
I look forward to continue working with you to make this happen.
Rep. Miller was unable to attend the Cal-TASH Conference this March 4-5 in Irvine, California, but he passed along a letter to express his appreciation of this honor. The complete text of the letter is below, but you can click to view the original.
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much and for your tireless efforts on behalf of children with disabilities. I am honored and humbled to receive the Diane Lipton Memorial Cal-TASH Award.
When I first heard about the atrocities happening in our schools under the guise of discipline as restraint and seclusion, I was horrified. I took action immediately by requesting a government report to look at examples of these cases and then calling a Congressional hearing.
Following the hearing, I worked with my colleagues to pass a bill that would, for the first time, set minimum standards to prevent these types of abuses in schools. These protections already exist in hospitals and other community centers. But our children were unprotected at school where they spend the most time. This was unacceptable to me.
I was grateful to have so many of my colleagues join me in supporting this bill but unfortunately the Senate wasn’t able to complete their work.
Let me assure you – we’re not finished. I remain committed to ending the inappropriate seclusion and restraints in our schools. This is just the beginning. All children should be safe in school and parents deserve this assurance as well.
I look forward to continue working with you to make this happen.
Thank you again for honoring me – you are the real champions.
Sincerely,
George Miller
Member of Congress
7th District, California