The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton, MA, uses cruel "aversive therapy" on children with autism, depression, and mental retardation. It's the only school in the US that allows painful shocks of children, sometimes tying them down for long sessions of shocks. "Hot-saucing", extreme food deprivation, and other corporal punishments are routine and frequent. None of these "aversive therapies" have ever been proven to work with the mentally ill children who are forced into the JRC.

Most JRC "clients" come from New York, where "aversive therapy" is illegal. On Monday, June 19, the New York State Education Dept. will decide whether to stop sending children to JRC! Please urge them to stop sending children there: OAS@mail.nysed.gov or call (518) 474-5889.

The Massachusetts Senate recently voted to ban "aversive therapy" in an amendment to the FY2007 Budget. Now it's up to the House. They will probably vote next week! If you live in MA, please contact your Representative and urge him/her to support amendment #765 to ban "aversive therapy" in MA, at: www.capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=8846516&type=ST&show_alert=1" target="_blank

Thank you for taking action for these poor children!!

Susan Lawrence
Director, Stop the Rod
Board of Directors, Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education
Board of Advisors, EPOCH-USA
www.stoptherod.net
www.parentinginjesusfootsteps.org