Kevin A Blanchette

Honorable Representatives, This bill is dangerous, especially in this current time where we still are seeing people with disabilities being abused, and little oversight over that. We need to see bills that expand upon the training providers get in de-escalation, not an expansion of their right to physically restrain. Restraints and isolation are a last option only used when all other viable options have been exhausted. As a former residential worker, and current mental health counselor who works with people with disabilities, I can attest to the need for other interventions to be used. Going to extreme measures so quickly teaches the person to be reactive and have more behavioral issues in the long run.