Utah's Least Restrictive Behavioral Interventions Guidelines

Name of
Strategy
F-5.
Inhibiting Devices
Devices that prevent
a behavior, but don’t
restrain student.
F-6.
Manual Restraint
The use of force,
always the minimum
amount necessary, to
hold or restrain a
student for very
serious inappropriate
behavior.
Description for Implementation
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
An inhibiting device may be
freely removed by the student at
any time.
Watch for possible skin irritation.
Make certain that all staff who
implements aversive
interventions are thoroughly
trained in the proper procedures.
Staff should refer to specific LEA
policy and procedures relating to
the usage of inhibiting devices.
Determine as a team when
manual restraints would be
necessary (e.g., hurting
themselves or endangering
others), focusing on training of
staff and making sure that less
intrusive prompts have been
attempted with minimal success.
Other behavior strategies, such
as prompting and antecedent
control, should be used in
accordance with manual
restraint.
Make certain that all staff who
implements aversive
interventions are thoroughly
trained in the proper procedures.
Staff should refer to specific LEA
policy and procedures relating to
the usage of manual restraint.
Special
Considerations
These devices must never be
used as an alternative to
programming aimed at reducing
the inappropriate behavior.
Be sure to include
administration and families in
decisions involving the use of
manual restraints. Manual
restraint should always be used
with caution, and specific staff
members should be trained on
appropriate manual restraints.
Manual restraints could result in
serious physical injuries to the
student and adult. Therefore,
this may not be an appropriate
strategy for secondary
students.
Data
Sources
Data should be taken by tracking
exactly what kind of inhibiting
device was used, by whom, and
what the reasons were.
Duration of the usage of the
device.
Follow appropriate
documentation procedures from
specific LEA policy.
These procedures may include a
data collection system. For
example, each time the
intervention is used, the
responsible staff member might
record the following:
o Date
o Student name
o Problem behavior
o Antecedents
o The student’s reaction
o Length of time intervention
was used
o Initials of staff member
Fidelity data may be gathered by
observers taking notes on the
above data while strategy is
being implemented, making sure
that manual restraint is done in
accordance with training.
References
• Ryan, J. B. & Peterson, R. L.
(2004). Physical restraints in
school. Behavioral Disorders,
29(2), 155-169.
• Ysseldyke, J., Algozzine, B,
Thurlow, M. (2000). Critical
issues in special education.
New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company.
• Allen, B. (1998). New
guidance on the use of
reasonable force in schools
1998. British Journal of
Special Education, 24, 184-
188.
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