The use of physical restraint and seclusion as punishment has been well documented in WWASP Programs. The use of these methods are not only dangerous and often unnecessary, they also create an environment of abuse and fear that is often a coercive component to the program. Many programs will claim that restraints are only used when students are “a danger to themselves or others” as this is the law (dependent on state) that dictates their use of the method, however most students will report that the use of these methods were for reasons other than safety, mainly for refusing to follow directions, cussing or yelling in the presence of staff. In any case, the use of bent wrist, limb submissions and prone (face down) restraints are violent, painful and present far more danger to the child than could be avoided if staff were properly trained in the use of non-violent crisis intervention and deescalation techniques instead.
WWASP programs regularly utilize various forms of seclusion, the least of which is a type of social seclusion, where a student is placed on a communication restriction and is not allowed to speak or otherwise interact with any of their fellow peers and communication with staff is limited to necessity and emergency situations only. The second form of seclusion is another form of social seclusion combined with an element of detention; this process often involves being secluded to a room (either alone or in a group, supervised by staff or jr staff) while students are required to sit still (or maintain stress positions) while remaining completely silent and made to stare at a wall for 4-10 hours at a time (This process can also include writing essays up to 50,000 words and intervals of strenuous calisthenics). The third and probably most troubling is the use of total isolation, where the student is forced to sit alone in a room to sit silently, sometimes in “structure” (a painful “stress position”), required to stare at a wall, and can often be restrained for moving, talking or crying. This kind of seclusion can last for anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks, and has been described by survivors to be “the most traumatizing experience the program has to offer”.  There is no evidence to suggest that the use of seclusion (and restraints) is either effective or necessary in behavior/ crisis interventions, and in fact, the use of seclusion in non-emergency situations can pose significant physical and psychological danger to students.
WWASPSurvivors strongly believes that the use of physical restraints and/ or seclusion as punishment is a Red Flag for any program, and should indicate a concern for that program’s operating policies. If you believe the program you are looking into utilizes restraints (which they MUST disclose in their contracts) and/ or seclusion, please be advised that the use of these methods may be abusive and traumatic to your children.
More information on Restraints & Seclusion