Provincial rules for isolation rooms due within weeks

Move follows suit in which autistic boy was allegedly locked in seclusion space

EDMONTON Alberta schools can expect to see new binding guidelines on the use of isolation rooms in a matter of weeks.

The change comes on the heels of publicity around a lawsuit filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench by a Sherwood Park family. They allege their 12-year-old son with autism was locked, naked, in a Clover Bar School isolation room, and are suing the teacher, the principal, the school board and the Alberta government.

Isolation room guidelines already exist in Alberta, but Education Minister David Eggen told reporters at Government House Monday he wants to see those rules updated and strengthened.

Seclusion rooms are used across Canada but should be a last resort, he said.

“We want to make sure that there’s a consistent policy being used across the province ... (and) that there’s a clear message for teachers and other professionals about when to use those things,” Eggen said.

Eggen said despite the sensitivities created by the lawsuit, he’s glad it’s “helping to precipitate positive change.”

The lawsuit was filed more than a year ago. Late last week Eggen said he will convene a working group to develop isolation room policy changes, but the minister denied his government has dragged its heels.

“We were looking to build guidelines, and we will have some input from teachers, psychologists and other professionals and will be building policy here now,” he said.

He said they would be in place “in a matter of weeks.”

Inclusion Alberta has launched an online survey looking for input from the public.