Project Advisor: Guy Stephens, Founder/CEO
PPF Project Since: July 30, 2021
Website: endseclusion.org
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) was founded by Guy Stephens, driven by his personal experience as a parent of a neurodivergent child who was subjected to harmful restraint and seclusion practices in school. Recognizing the deep and lasting harm these methods cause, not just to his own family but to countless others, Guy committed himself to advocating for policy and practice change that would protect vulnerable children nationwide.
AASR is committed to transforming how schools and other systems of care respond to behavioral concerns, particularly for neurodivergent and disabled students. Their mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline. AASR’s vision is a future in which all children are educated in safe, inclusive, and equitable environments – where diversity is celebrated, behavioral challenges are met with understanding, and interventions are rooted in compassion and evidence-based practice. They believe that by shifting mindsets, updating policies, and equipping educators with the right tools, lasting systemic change can be achieved to protect and uplift the most vulnerable students.
AASR partnered with PPF to leverage their nonprofit expertise, operational infrastructure, and financial systems. This support enabled the organization to begin tracking expenses, accepting donations, and scaling its advocacy efforts without being burdened by administrative complexities.
“PPF’s infrastructure gave us the foundation to grow while keeping our focus on improving outcomes for children.”
AASR is committed to transforming how schools and other systems of care respond to behavioral concerns, particularly for neurodivergent and disabled students. Their mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline. AASR’s vision is a future in which all children are educated in safe, inclusive, and equitable environments – where diversity is celebrated, behavioral challenges are met with understanding, and interventions are rooted in compassion and evidence-based practice. They believe that by shifting mindsets, updating policies, and equipping educators with the right tools, lasting systemic change can be achieved to protect and uplift the most vulnerable students.
AASR has made measurable progress by:
Founder Guy Stephens is now recognized nationally for his expertise in school discipline reform and frequently collaborates with policymakers and education leaders.
PPF has helped the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint remain focused on its core mission by managing compliance, legal requirements, and financial processes. Guy has highlighted the PPF team as outstanding collaborators, providing reliability, professionalism, and genuine investment in the cause.
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint has recently established its own 501(c)(3), marking an important milestone in its growth. While the organization plans to transition toward operating with greater independence, it intends to remain within the PPF/Cobalt ecosystem.
This continued connection ensures access to trusted administrative and compliance support while allowing the Alliance to expand its
advocacy work at scale.
““Work worth doing, is work worth doing. If you have a mission and a purpose to do good in this world, the world needs you. Take the steps and create the change you want to see.”
Join the growing community of mission-driven projects that trust PPF to handle the administrative details while they focus on making an impact.
