Susan Senator

No matter how you slice it, it does not make sense to use electric skin shocks on people to retrain them. Because if it is an effective technique, as the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, MA claims,  then why don’t we use it on proven violent criminals, too? Don’t we want them to learn how to behave in society? Don’t we want them to stop hurting people?

We would not use skin shocks on proven criminals because that would be considered “cruel and unusual punishment.” 

If we as a nation are not permitted to use aversive techniques to retrain, rehabilitate proven criminals (murderers, rapists, child molestors) then why can a school use such techniques as electric skin shocks to retrain children who are aggressive or self-injurious?

Huh? I’m confused.

No, I’m outraged.

A while back, I asked my State Rep Jeffrey Sanchez if he would help shut down the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Mass, because JRC uses electric skin shocks to “treat” its autistic students who have severe problems with aggression. Rep. Sanchez replied that I can’t possibly know what it’s like… or he said something like that…

I absolutely can know what it’s like for my child to be aggressive and out of control. It is documented in my books, my blog, my heart. But my Nat had an excellent education and he learned how to communicate. He learned to understand how to tell others what he needed, how to reach out when he had to or wanted to.

All people can learn. It is up to us — society, parents, schools — to be patient and figure out how. Without pain, horror, and abuse. It may take years, but it can happen. This I know. There simply is no justification for torture. If you watch the video, you will witness a child being tortured, in our state, on our watch.

So here is my letter to Rep. Sanchez, because yesterday I viewed a video on ThAutcast, shown by FOX25, and long-suppressed by the JRC, of a child being skin-shocked. I don’t know if Sanchez still supports JRC’s methods. So I’m asking him to consider condemning them, helping to end their use of electric skin shocks and other aversive methods.

Dear Jeff,
As a constituent, and someone whose known you for years, I have to ask, to plead with you to please withdraw your support of the Judge Rotenberg School, if indeed you still do.  You once said to me, (I only remember what I perceived you said) “It’s the only thing that works for some of these kids,” or something like that.

Jeff, I know what it’s like. My son Nat has had serious bouts with aggression and out of control behavior. Scary stuff. But he learned. Even though severely impaired in terms of language, he learned.

All people with autism can learn, but it is up to society to figure out humane ways to teach them. There are cases where people with autism learn communication later in life (my own son, for example). Once people learn to communicate, whether verbally or typed or signed, or pointed, many of these difficult behaviors recede. This makes sense. If you can express what is bothering you, you can be helped.

Have you seen the video just released, of the JRC’s methods?  Take a look, but be prepared to be horrified. This just cannot be a school in Massachusetts, but it is!

Graphic video of teen being restrained, shocked played in court: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Schools must be supported to teach, using the many available and humane approaches, and not hurtful, abusive, or aversive ones. Skin shocks CANNOT be the answer. You have to draw the line somewhere.

As my state rep., I’m asking you, and as a prominent advocate in the autism community, I’m seriously putting it to you that you must consider withdrawing your support of this place, if you still do, and even with a personal connection you may have to it. Please, in the name of human decency.

If you already have withdrawn your support of JRC, then I thank you!

Thanks, Jeff.
Susan Senator

We will find out what Rep. Sanchez’ answer is and post it.