Media Center

Grafton’s New Partnership with Page Elementary School
December 9, 2019 from LocalDMV.com

Chloe Sorensen and Tasha King with Grafton and Nicole Shaffer, Principal of Page Jackson Elementary School, talk about a new partnership and the impact that Ukeru’s trauma informed care approach has had with students.

An Alternative to Seclusion and Restraint was Born in Virginia and It’s Spreading
December 6, 2019 from Virginia Public Media/NPR

This piece highlights the change that two organizations, Support Services of Virginia and Woods Services, significantly reduced restraints and seclusions by working with Ukeru.

The Quiet Room
November 19, 2019 from Chicago Tribune

As part of a collaboration between the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois, Kim Sanders talks about why Ukeru’s parent organization eliminated seclusion.

Kim Sanders on Developing Ukeru Systems to Eliminate Seclusion and Restraint
August 20, 2019 from Crisis Talk

Kim Sanders shares the story of how Grafton changed its culture to create a trauma informed culture.

How Some Schools Restrain Or Seclude Students: A Look At A Controversial Practice
June 15, 2019 from NPR

In a piece on alternatives to restraint and seclusion, Ukeru President Kim Sanders talks about Grafton’s experience and the effectiveness of a comfort vs. control philosophy.

Father of Maryland special needs student says seclusion and restraint needs to stop
May 31, 2019 from Fox 5 DC

A father from Calvert County, MD highlights Ukeru as an effective alternative to the use of restraint and seclusion in the classroom.

A Lesson in Restraint: FPS looks into new behavior system
April 23, 2019 from Valley News Live

As part of a story on Fargo, North Dakota’s evaluation of their use of restraint and seclusion, Kim Sanders was interviewed to talk about the benefits of using Ukeru.

LETTER: There are alternatives to restraint and seclusion
April 16, 2019 from Fredricksburg.com

Ukeru President, Kim Sanders, responds to an editorial in Fredricksburg.com, indicating some students need to be restrained, by offering a different perspective based on her 30 years of experience working with children with developmental disabilities. Read the letter here.

Children Are Routinely Isolated In Some Fairfax County Schools. The District Didn’t Report It.
March 14, 2019 from WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio

This report sheds light on the overuse of restraint and seclusion, but Ukeru President, Kim Sanders explains that it is important to remember that teachers are only using the tools they have and know. Just like Ukeru’s parent organization, Grafton, more positive outcomes are achieved when staff are given other tools as options.