ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
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againstrestraint.com
ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
@againstrestraint.com
4.9K followers 3K following 440 posts
Family, survivor and neurodivergent led advocacy to end restraint, seclusion and institutional abuses of children. #AgainstRestraint #SICAA SICAA Coalition.
🔗 againstrestraint.com
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Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
autisticrealms.bsky.social
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/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:06 AM
againstrestraint.com
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
A silhouetted figure stands in a dark, misty scene holding a protest sign with the ICARS logo that reads “International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion.” The light behind them creates a halo effect, emphasizing the act of protest. Below, a quote from Clarence Darrow reads: “As long as the world shall last, there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.” The hashtag #AgainstRestraint appears in the corner.
October 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
againstrestraint.com
Every system has its Epsteins, those who harm children, and its enablers who say “no harm done.” #AgainstRestraint
October 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM
againstrestraint.com
🧵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
October 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
thinkingautism.com
“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
Many autistic students are denied a full education — here’s what we need for inclusive schools
Integrating autistic students fully and meaningfully in classrooms is important for their education, for broader classrooms as well as for families’ employment security and well-being.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
againstrestraint.com
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...
Northumberland parents learn self defence against their children
Some parents say help is not available quickly enough to deal with violence from their children.
www.bbc.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
autisticrealms.bsky.social
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
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October 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
againstrestraint.com
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
A dimly lit classroom shows several students seated at desks, facing forward. In the foreground, a young boy in a school uniform sits apart from his peers with his head bowed. His outline glows faintly in ICARS orange, highlighting his isolation and distress. A shadowed teacher figure stands at the front of the room. The slide text reads: “HELD DOWN, HELD BACK — Restraint and Seclusion in England’s Schools.” Logos for Lives in the Balance and ICARS (International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion) appear in the lower corners, with the caption: “Lives in the Balance — Children’s Mental Health Advocacy Conference 2025.”
October 12, 2025 at 11:33 PM
againstrestraint.com
“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...
‘Autism Doesn’t Need a Cure’: Trump’s Message Rankles People Living With the Disability
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
againstrestraint.com
🚨 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...
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Call for Decision-Making based on Quality Science and Compassion for the Autism Community - Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Click here to read a plain language explainer of this statement. For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 24, 2025  Organizational Contacts: AAPD: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528 AU...
autisticadvocacy.org
September 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
againstrestraint.com
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.
I'm autistic. Trump and RFK Jr. must stop treating us like a plague to be eradicated.
Evidence for Trump's Tylenol claim is weak. Yet no prior administration has cared less about what either autism experts or autistic people have to say
usatoday.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:37 AM
againstrestraint.com
Has your child faced removal, isolation, or seclusion in an English school? Share your story in our anonymous survey. Link in comments. #AgainstRestraint
September 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
againstrestraint.com
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 ..
A committee hearing room is shown with a wooden podium and a black gooseneck microphone in the foreground, set up for testimony. A paper with highlighted text rests on the podium. In the background, blurred figures of attendees sit in rows. Overlaid white text reads: “No amount of noise can silence the truth of advocacy.” The ICARS logo and hashtag #AgainstRestraint appear in the bottom left corner.
August 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
againstrestraint.com
Advocacy is the bridge between injustice and action. It transforms silence into voice and resistance into change. #AgainstRestraint
A silhouette of a woman speaking at a podium outdoors with a blurred audience in the background. Bold white text over the image reads: “Advocacy is the bridge between injustice and action.” ICARS orange and black circular logo is in the bottom left corner.
August 30, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Here is the page with ideas for alternatives to ABA from @stimpunks.org

stimpunks.org/why/alternat...
Alternatives to ABA
ABA is bad, very bad. Here’s what to do instead.
stimpunks.org
August 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Very proud to be working with @stimpunks.org and helping this resource evolve. Important work for our community.
Thank you for resharing @thinkingautism.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:09 AM
againstrestraint.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. 🧡
A graphic with a white background and light gray butterfly silhouettes. The text reads: “In advocacy, originality leaves a legacy. Imitation fades into noise. Choose legacy.” At the bottom left is the ICARS logo in orange, black, and white. In the bottom right corner is the hashtag #AgainstRestraint.
August 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
againstrestraint.com
🧵 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...
2025 Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference
events.zoom.us
August 14, 2025 at 9:56 PM
againstrestraint.com
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 🧵
ChatGPT said: Alt text: "Letterhead of ICARS (International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion) with logo in the top right corner. Addressed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission at Arndale House, Manchester, dated Wednesday 23 April 2025. Subject: Request for Investigation into Alleged Abuse and Equality Failures in Witherslack Group Settings. The letter requests an urgent and formal investigation into allegations of abuse, neglect, and discriminatory treatment of disabled children and young people in Witherslack Group educational and residential settings."
August 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion
theipaper.com
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
August 12, 2025 at 8:04 AM
againstrestraint.com
“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
Quote graphic with a purple background and faint overlay of restraint images. Text reads: “‘It was uncomfortable and painful. I was scared,’ said an ex-pupil, now aged 13. The child, who is autistic, attended the school from 2019 to December 2023 and says she was ‘restrained a lot, sometimes for 30 minutes’ after the Witherslack Group took over Bramley Hill. ‘I saw children being pinned down on benches,’ she said. ‘They would be screaming, “Get off me you’re hurting me.” It made me feel annoyed and anxious.’” Below, in smaller text: “‘SEND pupils “injured by staff” at UK school owned by Abu Dhabi royal family’ – i Paper, August 12, 2025.” The ICARS logo is in the lower left corner, and The i Paper logo is in the lower right corner.
August 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
againstrestraint.com
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
theipaper.com The i Paper @theipaper.com · Aug 12
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
August 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
againstrestraint.com
“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
Quote graphic with a dark brown background and faint overlay of restraint images. Text reads: “When it was two people grabbing my arms and dragging me was the worst,” Dorian, now 10, told The i Paper. “They need to leave me alone to let me calm down, but they wouldn’t listen.” Below, in smaller text: “SEND pupils 'injured by staff' at UK school owned by Abu Dhabi royal family – i Paper, August 12, 2025.” The ICARS logo is in the lower left corner, and The i Paper logo is in the lower right corner.
August 12, 2025 at 10:26 AM
againstrestraint.com
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
theipaper.com The i Paper @theipaper.com · Aug 12
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
August 12, 2025 at 10:09 AM
againstrestraint.com
“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...
Quote graphic with an orange background and faint overlay of restraint images. Text reads: “My daughter is physically restrained daily,” a mother of a Bramley Hill autistic pupil, who is aged 10, said. “It should be used as a last resort. Her head had been slammed against a floor a few weeks ago. I am consulting with lawyers to take legal action. I am not doing this for the compensation… I want the school closed down.” Below, in smaller text: “SEND pupils 'injured by staff' at UK school owned by Abu Dhabi royal family – i Paper, August 12, 2025.” The ICARS logo is in the lower left, and The i Paper logo is in the lower right.
August 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM