Rotenberg Center makes the news again

The Rotenberg Center made news again and has been circulated online by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASANDiscussion/). Responding to this update, I've made the Rotenberg Center a focus in this week’s column for the Lake County Record-Bee.

Almost one year ago, the Rotenberg Center was the focus of an investigative story in “Mother Jones.” Schools and parents in New York and other states are sending "problem" children to this place for one-size-fits-all shock therapy.

The children lug around backpacks that have the chargers inside them and electrodes are fastened to their bodies.

There are no drugs and no psychology to find out what causes their behavior; just the use of what are referred to as “adversives.”

The situation described in this article is truly horrifying and the update this week concerned a seizure of documents by police. Apparently multiple agencies are involved in an investigation.

ASAN circulated word this week of another development that additionally drew my concern: a teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla. who singled out a student in the class and had every one of his classmates say what they didn’t like about him and then vote him out of the class.

I address both of these appalling situations in my column this week, contrasting them to the advocacy that exists in our local district. The column ran May 27, 2008, in the Lake County Record-Bee and may addtionally run next week in the Clear Lake Observer American.

Originally posted to DailyStrength.org