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Friday, March 19, 2010

Student restraints, Day 3: Jennifer Howson's story

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Jennifer Howson, 21, was restrained dozens of times at her school in the northeast Texas town of Kemp, often sustaining scrapes, bruises and black eyes. Her case is hardly unique; Texas educators pinned down students with disabilities 18,000 times in the 2007-08 school year.

In one case, educators restraining Jennifer broke a costsly device surgically implanted in her body to prevent severe seizures. The restraints occurred though Jennifer's parents, both teachers -- were working mere blocks away.

In this video, Jennifer and the Howsons tell their story.