Petition to Stop The Shock @ JRC & Pass H.180 End Aversive/Abusive "Treatment"
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
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The #STOPTHESHOCK Coalition is working to put an end to the Judge Rotenberg Center's use of the GED skin shock device as an Aversive “therapy” method to control disabled, mostly Autistic, residents behavior. Bill H180 (An Act Regarding The Use of Aversive Therapy), currently in the house, would put an end to this abusive practice.
In 2013, the Special Rapporteur declared that the use of the GED device violated the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Since JRC opened, at least 6 residents have died within its doors. In December of 2022, after decades of persistent advocacy work, the FDA was finally granted the right to ban this device. However, as of July 2023 they have taken NO action.
By getting as many Politicians as possible to collaborate and sign on in support of banning the GED Device and Aversive Therapy in Massachusetts, we can make a HUGE Impact. There is power in numbers, and together we will put an end to this barbaric practice!
Please sign this Petition so we can finally #STOPTHESHOCK!
Petition by
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To:
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
From:
[Your Name]
The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts has been the subject of much controversy and scrutiny in recent years, due to their use of aversive therapy and electric shock devices on individuals with disabilities. Shock devices have been shown to cause physical and psychological harm, and are a clear violation of the basic human rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities. As supporters of the #STOPTHESHOCK campaign, we believe that it is critical to end the use of aversive therapy on individuals with disabilities in the state of Massachusetts.
Aversive therapy is a form of behavior modification that seeks to eliminate unwanted behaviors by using negative stimuli or punishment. This can include hitting, pinching, and the use of electric shock devices. Shock devices have been banned in many countries around the world, and are considered to be a form of torture by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Despite this, shock devices continue to be used at the JRC, where individuals with disabilities are subjected to electric shocks as a form of punishment and behavior modification. Shock devices are not a legitimate form of treatment, and should never be used as such.
H.180 - An Act Regarding the Use of Aversive Therapy - seeks to address this issue by establishing minimum standards for the treatment of individuals with disabilities in programs, agencies, and facilities funded, operated, licensed, or approved by any agency or subdivision of the Commonwealth.
The bill prohibits the use of any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain, including hitting, pinching, and electric shock, for the purposes of changing the behavior of the person and mandates that individuals with disabilities receive reasonable sleep, food, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities, and any other aspect expected of a humane existence in the Commonwealth.