What’s really shocking about the JRC
June 20, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Yesterday the New York Board of Regents voted 7 to 1 to recommend severe limits on the use of electric shock and other aversive treatments to students at the Judge Rothenburg Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts. Legislators are voting on the recommendation today, according to an article in today’s Boston Globe.
Nearly two-thirds of the 250 students at the JRC are from New York State. Half of the students wear electroshock devices at all times to control self-injurious and aggressive behavior—-though New York investigators found out last week that students have been receiving two-second shocks for significantly less “severe” behaviors, such as nagging and swearing.
More than fifty supporters of the JRC—many of whom were parents—packed the courtroom.
Dozens of parents have said that the discipline of the school saved their child’s life by stopping dangerous behavior.
“`If you end [shock treatments], I’m done, because my son needs aversive treatments,” said Marie Washington, who said her son, Jacques, was prone to violent, unprovoked attacks. “`At the Judge Rotenberg Center, he has a life. I love the life he has.’”
My own son has self-injurious behavior (SIB)—head-banging—and also aggressive behaviors. I do not know what Mrs. Washington’s son Jacques’s behaviors are like and can only speak for my family’s experience with the challenging behaviors that autistic children can have.
Charlie’s SIBs and aggression became much worse in the past year. We have been able to help him control these much, much better through a combination of ABA at home, a structured ABA school program, lots of speech therapy (to help Charlie communicate better, rather than having to do something aggressive), OT to help him regulate his sensory needs, lots of exercise (especially biking and swimming), and more.
From the past year (and past nine years with autism, really) I have learned that autistic children can learn so much if taught with the right methods and with teachers and therapists who can see past Charlie’s worst behaviors—-can see the lovely boy within, who wants to be taught, who wants to learn, who so aims to please and be peaceful and easy-feeling, and enjoy swims in the ocean and guitar music. It has taken a lot of time, a lot of teaching, and reams of effort to get Charlie where he is.
It is worth it. Charlie is worth it.
And what is really shocking to me is the yes, shocked, looks I get when I explain how we continue to try to help Charlie with the SIBs and the aggression through good teaching, first, foremost, and always.
I still don’t understand how hurting kids who hurt themselves for whatever reason is going to get the message across to not hurt themselves. I mean, DUH.
And then there’s human rights. But who cares about those if it gets a challenging kid out of one’s hair, right?
It is truly strange how these other aspects of Skinner keep resurfacing. My own mind wanders towards some of the recurrent themes of American culture regarding the need for trial (punishment) prior to reward, achievement or success. “No pain, no gain”, “nothing good is ever easy”, etc.
Of course the Puritans left various European countries and came here to seek their own expression. So I wonder, do European treatments echo the same diachotomy of the differences between ABA and the methods used at the Judge Rothenburg Center (and elsewhere)?
Just curious… I’m not even sure if that makes any sense to anyone else…
AD: “It is truly strange how these other aspects of Skinner keep resurfacing.”
Odd thing, though, is that it is not Skinner’s work that Matthew Israel is using there… it’s Seligman’s “learned helplessness” stuff down to a T….
Mike: Do you know of centers in the UK that use the kinds of “aversive” methods as the JTC? Here in New Jersey at least, there are plenty of autism schools use primary teaching methodology is ABA (including Charlie’s) but the things that go on at the JTC are NOT the case at all.
David, I’m not familiar with Seligman? What bothers me most is how, in every article I have read about the JTC, mention is made of how the families and parents WANT this to be their child’s placement.
Kassiane, two “wrongs”—twofold hurting—-don’t make a right—–and human rights for disabled children, I suppose some think that is a “novel” concept!
David, apologies for slinging with a broad brush. I was thinking of Skinner in this instance, in the broadest sense of behaviorial studies…
I would never inflict pain upon my own child. I would deeply appreciate his ability to feel or understand pain though.