Join us for a webinar with Guy Stephens, Executive Director and Founder of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint on March 20, 2025 at 7:00pm central. 

Many children are chronically misunderstood and punished in the name of behavior. Misunderstood children are far more likely to be restrained, secluded, suspended, expelled, and subjected to corporal punishment due to their behavior. The truth is that many traditional views and approaches to behavior management do not work for children who need our help the most. 

Children with disabilities, Black and brown children, neurodivergent children, and children with a trauma history are far more likely to be misunderstood and subjected to punitive and exclusionary discipline. PDA children are at an increased risk of being misunderstood and mistreated at school. Parents, caregivers, and professionals must know the risks and advocate for solutions.

We must move past approaches that only aim to manipulate or replace behavior to approaches that are trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative. Today, we know better and can do better for our children. In this presentation, we will discuss why children are misunderstood in the name of behavior, the impact it has on children and families, and better ways to support all children. 

This will be recorded and sent to you after the event within 48hrs. 

BIO: 

Guy Stephens is a passionate advocate and a nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion. In 2019, Guy founded the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a highly respected national nonprofit organization. AASR's mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive and exclusionary discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline. Guy promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches to working with children. He has presented at conferences and events across North America and regularly speaks as a guest lecturer for undergraduate and graduate courses. Guy currently serves on the board of directors for The Arc of Maryland and PDA North America. Guy believes that we can do better for all children and adults; if we can, we must. Guy understands that we must embrace neurodiversity and neuroscience to create safe and inclusive environments and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.

https://endseclusion.org/