Massachusetts Considers Bill about Shock Treatment at the JRC
January 16, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Legislation, Safety
A key legislative committee in Massachusetts is weighing a bill to significantly decrease the use of electric shock in “aversive therapy” at the Judge Rotenberg School (JRC) in Canton, according to WWLP. Senator Brian Joyce says that the treatment is “barbaric” and that it should be limited to those who present a clear risk of injury to themselves or others. A state investigation into the JRC was called for after an incident last summer in which two former students telephoned in and ordered shocks on a student still at the center. Some parents have spoken in support of the school as “saving the life” of their children, some of whom have autism, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities. Other serious administrative lapses and questionable practices in the supervision of staff and the treatment of children at the school have also been found.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
A way to determine whether or not a method would be suitable as therapy is to ask: “Is this something Foucault would practice in his spare time?”
If so, probably not a good therapy.
The treatment is barbaric, and should be eliminated altogether. That being said, the reality of politics is that you sometimes have to settle for half a loaf this time, and try for the other half another day.
Bills that would completely eliminate the practice have failed in the past. I hope that this bill, imperfect though it is, passes this time, and that people will not stop highlighting this until it is completely eliminated.
Joe
I might suggest beyond MA S109. which only partially addresses the question, that other bills which add to safeguards are MA H144, which requires background checks, H2245/S1122 To create a commission to review use of behavior mod, including aversive procedures, across all agencies, and H2244/S1124 which requires licensing of Behavior Analysts in MA, to increase competency standards and state accountability through the MA Psychology licensing board.
http://www.arcmass.org/StateHousePolicy/Bills/tabid/135/Default.aspx
Did anyone attend the hearing?
Kristina, did you know that an ad for the Judge Rotenberg Center appeared among the ads-by-Google on AutismVox when I visited last night?
Yes, I have been in contact with my editor about this.
For an accurate summary of what the Judge Rotenberg Center is really about, please go to http://www.judgerc.org/responsetoblogs.pdf