Experiences of restrictive practices: A view from people with disabilities and family carers

This research report relates for the first time the experiences of people with disabilities and afmilies in Victoria their experiences and responses to the implementation of restrictive practcies oon people with disabilities. These practices under the Victorian Disability Act 2006, permit the use of mechanical restraints and seclusion if a person is danger to self or others. The study shows how focus on the behaviour misses exploration of causes. These causes lie in people life histories of abuse, in their interactions and their environments. Much behaviour is of 'protest' and 'resistance'. Using restrictive interventions simply doubly punishes the person and creates more angst. the result it acquiescence at one extreme and cycles of more and more violent behaviour on the other. Policy and practcie needs to be cognisant of the factors that produce behaviours seen to be of concern to others if the Senior Practitioner's aim to produce dignity without restraint is to be accomplished.