The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center
This post http://bit.ly/JvF3aZ
Video: http://bit.ly/Jc9L90
Last week's post - History: http://bit.ly/IQdzq6
One of the issues addressed last week was the mistreatment, indeed, what many consider torture, of children with disabilities at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center near Boston. ( Look at the link to the news video above.) If you are unfamiliar with the mistreatment of disabled youth at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center near Boston, you might want to review last week's post (see link above) or some of the following:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/school-shock
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/shock-therapy-massachussetts-school/story?id=11047334
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/shock-therapy-massachussetts-school/story?id=11047334#.T6VtnetDwpW
Sign Whistleblower Greg Miller's petition:
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Action
Goal: stopping the torture
Question: Who has the power to stop the torture?
How do we persuade someone with that power to stop the torture?
Many have appealed to many authorities to stop the torture, unsuccessfully so far. My understanding is that there have been media exposes, appeals the the United Nations, he US Department of Justice, the State of Massachusetts, and others. There are many reasonable strategies. Many authorities could intervene. Apparently, none have. There are many reasonable points of attack. I am going to begin my effort with the corporation that runs the center.
Thinking out loud: Not a proposal for action, yet.
Who could stop the torture?
Who are all the individuals who have any power over the center? Who are all the individuals who might be able to stop the torture? Yesterday, I asked someone experienced on this issue if we might be able to get the electricity turned off. I was told that these devices were powered from some kind of battery. I raise this not because that is a good or realistic strategy. I raise it because after all this effort by so many people, it is now time to leave no stone unturned. What are all the possibilities?
One person questioned the propriety of identifying the board members and trying to persuade them to stop the torture. I was advised that we needed a more general approach involving changes in the law at a broader level.
I would also prefer a general approach involving changes in institutions. However, many have been trying that approach for years. The torture continues. Mother Jones published an expose five years ago. A UN representative was interviewed on Nighline after appealing to the US government two years ago. A broad coalition of groups at the national level approached Congress and an investigation continues, apparently.
It is now time for the mistreatment and torture to stop. Now. Enough. Those directly responsible for this torture need to either stop it, or step up to the plate and take responsibility for it. It is time to at least consider talking to the board members and officers of the corporation. Who are they? Do they know?
A history of present and past board members and officers of this corporation may help find a strategy to stop the electroshocks. Some former board members may share objections to the treatment. They may know leverage points and the internal politics of the board.
Those on the board can make decisions. They have professional and personal ties. Their professional associations may have taken positions on these issues. Two that I have looked up so far, Malott and Van Houten, appear to be members of the psychology department at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. We can look up their publications and credentials. If so, that opens up leverage points. This information may be helpful.
You are invited to select a director, and post whatever helpful information you can find that will assist in devising a strategy to stop the torture of students at the center. http://bit.ly/Ky3uma