Open Doors for Multicultural Families (ODMF) stands in solidarity with families across Washington who continue to experience the harmful impacts of restraint and isolation practices in schools. Across the state, students- many with disabilities and/or other behavioral needs, are still being subjected to isolation rooms, physical restraint, and other practices that are known to cause fear, trauma, and long-term emotional harm. Many families report that children return home feeling distressed, withdrawn, or afraid to return to school. These experiences reflect what our communities have been raising for years: restraint and isolation are not safety measures; they are harmful practices that disproportionately impact students with disabilities, students of color, and multilingual learners.
This calls for collective action, not only to end restraint and isolation, but to fundamentally reimagine how Washington supports students with disabilities and/or behavioral needs. ODMF is closely following House Bill 1795 (2025–26), “Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs,” which seeks to strengthen protections for students, increase transparency, and reduce the use of restrictive practices statewide. The bill reflects a growing recognition that Washington must move toward safer, more inclusive, community informed behavioral supports.‑informed behavioral supports.
HB 1795 aligns with the direction set by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), including the leadership of Tania May, OSPI Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, who has consistently emphasized that special education must be understood as a service, not a place. Her statewide guidance calls for:
- Inclusionary practices that ensure students with disabilities belong in their school communities, benefiting all students.
- Reimagined behavioral supports that move away from restrictive, punitive models and toward proactive, collaborative approaches.
- Strengthened educator training and resources that equip school staff to create supportive, culturally responsive environments rather than relying on restraint or isolation.
ODMF strongly supports this shift. We believe that responding to this moment by uplifting OSPI’s work, and advocating for the discontinuation of restraint and isolation practices through legislation like HB 1795, is the path forward. Any statewide solution must meaningfully include the voices of families and communities most impacted. As Tania May has emphasized in her public updates, reimagining behavioral supports must include community partnership at every stage. ODMF echoes this call: the community must be at the table to ensure that behavioral supports and educator training reflect the lived experiences and cultural needs of the students they serve.
Statement from Nicole Barker, Executive Director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families
“We believe every child deserves support, not restraint. To truly meet their needs, we must braid together systems and community collaborations, backed by state appropriations. Cultural brokers and navigators play a vital role in bridging families and educators, fostering understanding and ensuring every child has access to the education and care they need.”
Our Position on Restraint and Isolation
Open Doors for Multicultural Families has long opposed the use of restraint and isolation in schools. These practices often ignore the behavioral and mental health needs of children and can lead to increased segregation. Instead, we advocate for:‑health needs of children and can lead to increased segregation. Instead, we advocate for:
- Fully trained staff equipped to manage challenging behaviors safely and compassionately.
- Robust mental health resources embedded in schools.‑health resources
- Parent and caregiver partnership, ensuring families are engaged and informed.
- Cultural brokers and navigators who help bridge communication, cultural understanding, and trust between families and schools.
As cultural brokers, we see firsthand how families are left out of decision-making processes that directly affect their children. True change requires that community voices shape the redesign of behavioral supports and educator training.‑making processes that directly affect their children. True change requires that community voices shape the redesign of behavioral supports and educator training.
A Call for Collective Action
We echo OSPI’s call to reimagine behavioral supports and commit to working alongside state leaders, educators, and families to build systems that prioritize safety, dignity, and belonging. This work aligns directly with our 2026 Legislative Platform, which centers disability rights, safety, and equitable access to education and services.
Our legislative agenda calls for:
- Eliminating restraint and isolation in Washington schools.
- Investing in culturally responsive behavioral‑health supports.
- Expanding training for educators grounded in inclusion, trauma‑informed practice, and community partnership.
- Strengthening the role of cultural navigators and brokers statewide.
By intentionally weaving together community expertise and system‑level collaboration, supported by state appropriations, we can ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive.
Open Doors for Multicultural Families remains committed to advocating for policies that protect children, uplift families, and build inclusive schools where every student belongs.