Painful to Speak Of: The JRC on Geraldo tonight
Geraldo is airing a segment on the Judge Rotenburg Center tonight. Writes Geraldo on his blog:
Schools say they are enforcing discipline this way for the kids own good, but a report that officials issued says they were using pain as punishment — literally.
……….
The Massachusetts school that administers this treatment punishes their troubled and disabled children with electric shocks. They can be shocked for simply nagging the teacher. Some of the students are forced to have these shock devices in the bathtub and shower, which can be an electrocution hazard.
It is true, this segment is going to be painful to watch—-but, needless to say, it is good to get the word out about the JRC.
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POSTED IN: Legislation, Media, Safety, Treatment
5 opinions for Painful to Speak Of: The JRC on Geraldo tonight
Laura Cottington
Jun 22, 2006 at 5:26 am
What did you think of the show? I couldn’t believe all the positives the parents were giving at first, and the female reporter too in a sense. As much as Geraldo grinds me, at least he started to look at it more realistically towards the end of segment.
Angela
Jun 27, 2006 at 8:45 am
I use to work at JRC and it was not fun. The poor students getting electric shocks was very cruel. Some students programs required if they act out aggresively they get restrained and have to over an hour period get shocked 5 times. Some staff members got pleasure out of shocking them!! (REALLY SICK) the only reason why I stayed as long as I did was for the students. I cared a great deal about them and someone needs to do something to help them. If there is anything that can be done email me and I will help!!!!
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 27, 2006 at 8:53 am
Angela, Thanks for commenting here. Did you know about the JRC’s use of electric shocks when you start to work there?
Stephen Drake
Jun 28, 2006 at 11:24 am
I’m afraid there’s more bad news. A bill that would have banned “aversives” (I hate using the term) passed in the Massachussetts Senate, but failed to get the support it needed in a conference with the House. Full report is available in audio here:
http://www.wbur.org/news/2006/59014_20060627.asp
One of the major factors blocking passage was one legislator who has a nephew at JRC and talked about how his brother needed this “choice” for his son. And the Boston Globe also sided with JRC in an editorial timed to hit the legislators with maximum impact:
The title of the editorial is “not so shocking”
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/06/23/not_so_shocking/?p1=MEWell_Pos1
Autism Vox » Yes, it is shocking: More on the Judge Rotenburg Center’s use of electric shock
Jun 28, 2006 at 12:16 pm
[…] 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. […]
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