Yes, it is shocking: More on the Judge Rotenburg Center’s use of electric shock
June 28, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
In a June 23rd editorial entitled Not so shocking, the Boston Globe calls on the “controversial” Judge Rotenburg Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts, to “to maintain impeccable documentation of its practices and personnel” regarding its used of electric shock. The JRC, the Boston Globe notes, is “the only school in the nation that routinely uses skin shocks to control self-destructive and violent behavior on the part of some of its autistic, retarded, and emotionally disabled students.” The editorial notes that
The Rotenberg center routinely accepts referrals from traditional programs that couldn’t handle their most difficult patients. These include young people who gouge at their eyes, cut themselves, bang their heads violently, and attack others indiscriminately. For every parent who complains about the skin shocks, it seems there are scores willing to testify that aversive therapy restored functionality to their children and families. Any blanket attempt by the Legislature to ban the treatment, such as the one proposed by state Senator Brian Joyce of Milton, would be a deep disservice.
As the mother of a 9-year-old autistic child who has had some serious self-injurious and aggressive behaviors, I can only say that I believe that this sort of “aversive therapy” would do more than a “deep disservice” to my son. Through careful observation, we have learned that Charlie has head-banged or hit because he is trying to communicate—is trying to get attention—is trying to get out of a situation—has a headache—and does not have the language to explain any of this. It takes a lot of slow and patient teaching to give him the skill of asking for a break, or to use the bathroom, or to tell us he is full and does not want to eat all that is on his plate.
But this kind of teaching is more than worth it. And it is giving Charlie more than “functionality.”
And, rather than considering the inhumanity of electric shock to “control self-destructive and violent behavior,” what does the Boston Globe editorial fault the JRC for?
Faulty paperwork.
Matthew Israel, the school’s founder, says it was entirely his failure to keep up with changing state regulations that led to several of his clinicians being listed as “psychologists” despite their lack of state licenses, although nearly all had doctoral degrees in psychology. It’s a serious matter, but regulators should take care to investigate without getting caught up in the emotional charges that seem to rear up against the frequently misjudged treatment center.
Mention “electric shock” and “disabled students” and, I think, it is near-impossible not to get “caught up in the emotional charges.”
Because if we did not get “caught up” in them, we would be responding as human beings.
I think there are things that go on in there that should be expressed and investigated like abuse,mentally and phycially because there so far away dont think that we dont care about our children when there in someones elses care. we put our children in there for help not to turn them into confused children where things get worse off then what they are.
@bronx girl,
it’s not easy……so far we have been able to have our son at home. He doesn’t have a lot of speech and would not be able to communicate if something like abuse occurred.
It absolutely horrifies and distresses me that there are folks out there who think shocking children like this is acceptable!
It makes me so mad!
It also makes me wonder why groups like Autism Speaks to my knowledge don’t seem to address this…
Or does a certain attitude about autism lead people at the JRC to believe that inflicting pain on a person who is already inflicting pain on themselves is the only solution and there is no other way to deal with the situation.
That place should have been shut down years ago. They have such a high turnover rate they are constantly looking for new workers, which means the staff leaves before they get to know each “student”. Meaning that one on one care is lacking.
Also, last year on my birthday they shocked several students over a prank call.
It is not a trustworthy place and should be shut down.
There are several current bills in the MA legislature, and 3 of them are directly applicable to JRC and its operations. They are also applicable to the oversight and operation of other MA programs.
JRC is the one that really gets people’s dander up because of the GED/SIBIS, but the focus of resident treatment should be broader–unfortunately it’s a larger issue than one school.
Life and Death in State-Operated Developmental Disability Institutions
Equip for Equality
http://www.equipforequality.org/news/state-operated-dev-disability-institutions.php
This is sick! This is America?! As long as this is allowed they will push it further and start torturing well kids.