Lawmakers consider limits on skin-shock therapy
By Patricia Wen, Globe Staff
In many ways, the high-pitched scene that unfolded in a packed State House public hearing today was nothing new: Over the past two decades, critics of the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center have condemned the center's skin-shock therapy as cruel and barbaric, while supporters of this special education school, largely parents, have praised the facility as life-saving for mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed students.
But this time, after lawmakers failed in two previous attempts to shut down the Canton-based school, opponents of the Rotenberg Center offered what they described as a "compromise bill." Rather than ask for an outright ban of all skin-shock therapy, as they had in the past, they proposed legislation that would allow shocks only to stop students from actually hurting themselves or others, not for more "minor" acts such as swearing, shouting or failing to complete in a task.
The bill prompted an appearance at the hearing by Senate President Therese Murray, who described it as "excellent."
Sponsors of the bill said they hope it will lead to breakthrough changes for the Rotenberg school, the only facility in the nation with such pervasive use of skin-shock treatments. The school operates more than 30 group homes in communities around Canton.
"Today we have an opportunity to act," said Rep. John Sciback, a co-sponsor and a former director of psychology at Belchertown State School. "We cannot allow the status quo to exist as it is."
But in testimony before the joint House and Senate Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Matthew Israel, the founder and executive director of the 37-year-old school, criticized the bill as far from a compromise, and said none of the authors of the bill attempted to contact him for comment.
Joined by more than a dozen parents who came out in support, Israel said the proposed bill would gut the essence of his behavioral-control therapy, which avoids psychotropic drugs in favor of a reward-punishment system. He said the bill would stop his staff from being able to administer shocks for a broader group of offenses, including outbursts and rebelliousness that can interupt teaching in the classroom. He also said the bill stops shocks for "antecedent" behaviors, which are often preludes to more troubling infractions.
For instance, he said, students may be given two-second electrical shocks for getting out of their seat without permission because that act, in the past, often leads to the student attacking a staff member. Similarly, a girl who has an obsession with pulling her hair out may receive a shock when her hand comes close to her scalp.
Israel, who has weathered two previous attempts by lawmakers to close his school, said: "In order to treat, you have to treat the antecedent."
He also criticized another part of the bill, which would allow shock treatments to be approved only in 30-day intervals, with new authorizations allowed only if approved by panels of psychological experts. The shock treatments, under the bill, would have to have proven value in reducing the violent behavior. Israel, however, said the skin-shock therapy should not necessarily be viewed as a cure, but as a "prosthetic" that may need to be maintained over time for some students.
The committee has not scheduled a vote on the bill, but supporters said they hope the full House and Senate will take it up by spring.
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A "reward-punishment system" can be put in place without the use of electrical shock. Matthew Israel should come out of his special education cave and do some research and start treating his students like human beings and not animals!
Upon reading this one wonders if the clock has been turned back to the 1800's. Shocking children as a means to prevent certain types of behavior is in itself shocking. Try rewarding good behavior instead, with flowers, field trips and the possibilities are endless. Electrical shocking should be banned in Massachusetts.
This is definitely an important story-I hope tomorrow's Globe will expand on it. I was present at today's hearing, and it should be noted that several other scandalous issues came up. Dr. Israel and his cronies claim that they teach positive reinforcement; yet, I don't recall any specifics. The fact that JRC manufactures its own devices, with almost no oversight, an impressive display of buck-passing regarding the August "prank call" incident. What strikes me as well is that even if one were to support use of aversives, the indiscriminate manner they are used, the lengths JRC goes to to defend itself, Dr. Israel's perverse pride in what he does, and what sounds like an incredibly oppressive, Orwellian atmosphere, where kids are videotaped 24/7 and staff isn't even allowed to socialize, are enough to provide a strong recommendation for closure. JRC is a shameful stain on the Commonwealth.
Ditto! If they were to admnister this "therapy" for being obnoxious then he could find out for himself (daily) what it's really like to be tortured this way.
Patricia Wen's article is quite accurate. For more information about JRC's drug-free, reward punishment treatment program please see http://www.judgerc.org/responsetoblogs.pdf
Thanks for the update on the school that treats its students in controversial ways.
Does the school conduct individualized functional behavior assessments on the students before shocking them? It seems as if "typical" behavior (i.e. swearing, shouting or failing to complete a task) gets severe consequences at JRC.
Students at JRC are shocked for minor behaviors all the time. Looking at you for more than three seconds, standing up, moaning (a non-verbal student), repeating oneself (either verbally or in sign language), being incontinent (even if it's involuntary), speaking, raising a hand, can all lead to being shocked. That's the short list. Shocks are the answer for everything, and if Dr. Israel can't shock people, he does not have alternative treatment for these children. Calling someone "Superguy" fifty times a day can only get you so far, you know? (That's his idea of reward). So, teaching these kids coping mechanisms, redirecting them, or actually engaging them in meaningful activity with a human being are all forbidden from JRC rules. One mustn't redirect a student, one must confront at all costs. Pure behaviorism, in its most sadistic form. Staff are taught to literally try to force a child to misbehave so he can shock them. It's beyond insane. It's sick and disgusting and it needs to stop.
Please read the earlier posted link:
http://www.judgerc.org/responsetoblogs.pdf
This should be read beforejudging this program, or commenting on it. It explains a great deal about the program, including:
1. This program is often a last resort for students which have been kicked out of other special ed schools.
2. Positive-only reinforcement is used for several months before any shock therapy is resorted to.
3. less than half the students ever get shock therapy, and those that do get it on average once per week.
4. Many of the students for whom shock therapy is used are displaying self destructive behavior. i.e.
banging their head to the point of brain
damage; biting off their fingertips; pulling out their teeth; vomiting
and refusing food to the point of starvation; biting a hole through their
cheek; biting off part of their own tongue; scratching their heel to the
point of blood, bone infection and death;
There is a chance that actually attempting to learn some facts before judging this may allow you to understand what is really happening.
All of the self destructive behaviors you listed all can be treated without shocking a person. Maybe you should do some research before you decide to treat children like animals.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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