Author Topic: New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school  (Read 1843 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« on: June 19, 2006, 06:48:00 PM »
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/ ... TE=DEFAULT


State won't stop funding shock therapy school

By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The state won't stop funding a school for disabled youths despite reports of "skin shocks" that sometimes injured students for minor offenses including sloppy appearance.

The decision means the state won't interrupt the $50 million a year in funding it provides to the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Mass., until its review is complete. The school cares for about 150 autistic and disabled children from New York.

But the state did take a step toward ending at least some shock treatments of New Yorkers at the school.

A state Board of Regents committee recommended that the state prohibit the use of automatic shocks - triggered by getting out of a seat, for example - and for shocks administered while a student is restrained.

If the full board agrees Tuesday, Rotenberg wouldn't be allowed to use the automatic, multiple or restrained shocking methods on New Yorkers beginning June 23, said Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Cort.

"Skin shocks," as Rotenberg calls the brief once-a-week sessions, could continue at Rotenberg pending the state's review, she said.

State Education Department spokesman Tom Dunn said Monday that the state is reviewing the data provided by the school.

He said the school didn't respond to the state's first request for information. The state's order last week to stop using some methods and correct conditions still stand, Dunn said, but the state will postpone any action on funding until the review is complete.

The school is one of many the state employs to provide intensive services for disabled New Yorkers when there are no open spots for them in New York state facilities. But only Rotenberg uses shock therapy after approval by the student's parents and his or her home school district.

In the letter released by the school, state officials wrote that there will be a continuing review of reported injuries to students.

"The department will take no action regarding your agency's eligibility for approval from the commissioner to receive public funds for the education of students with disabilities until our review is completed," according to the state's letter.

The school's attorney, Michael Flammia, said the state's findings weren't confirmed and that the educational and psychological experts sent to investigate the school were biased against shock therapy.

"The `findings' and `reports' constitute nothing more than uninvestigated claims by team members who intentionally ignored, and refused to consider when offered, the mountain of evidence demonstrating that there is no clear and present danger and that the treatment plans for the New York students are extremely effective and safe," the school's attorney wrote to the state.

Most families that send the children to the school support the limited use of shock therapy, which isn't used in New York state. Parents and students say the shocks, similar to bee stings that last a couple seconds in sessions once a week, have been more effective than medication for students.

The state's review team made an unannounced visit to the school in the spring after complaints and a lawsuit by a parent.

The state told the school last week it must "cease certain interventions that threaten the health and safety of students at the school. Failure to do so would affect its approval to serve New York state students."

The state team criticized the school's "combined use of mechanical restraints and simultaneous application of skin shock" to some students. In addition, "many students were observed as they arrived to and from school wearing leg and wrist restraints."

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2006, 07:15:00 PM »
Shocking!!  :eek:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2006, 07:33:00 PM »
Quote
On 2006-06-19 15:48:00, Anonymous wrote:

"http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_DISABLED_YOUTHS_NYOL-?SITE=NYMID&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT





State won't stop funding shock therapy school



By MICHAEL GORMLEY

Associated Press Writer



ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The state won't stop funding a school for disabled youths despite reports of "skin shocks" that sometimes injured students for minor offenses including sloppy appearance.



The decision means the state won't interrupt the $50 million a year in funding it provides to the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Mass., until its review is complete. The school cares for about 150 autistic and disabled children from New York.



But the state did take a step toward ending at least some shock treatments of New Yorkers at the school.



A state Board of Regents committee recommended that the state prohibit the use of automatic shocks - triggered by getting out of a seat, for example - and for shocks administered while a student is restrained.



If the full board agrees Tuesday, Rotenberg wouldn't be allowed to use the automatic, multiple or restrained shocking methods on New Yorkers beginning June 23, said Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Cort.



"Skin shocks," as Rotenberg calls the brief once-a-week sessions, could continue at Rotenberg pending the state's review, she said.



State Education Department spokesman Tom Dunn said Monday that the state is reviewing the data provided by the school.



He said the school didn't respond to the state's first request for information. The state's order last week to stop using some methods and correct conditions still stand, Dunn said, but the state will postpone any action on funding until the review is complete.



The school is one of many the state employs to provide intensive services for disabled New Yorkers when there are no open spots for them in New York state facilities. But only Rotenberg uses shock therapy after approval by the student's parents and his or her home school district.



In the letter released by the school, state officials wrote that there will be a continuing review of reported injuries to students.



"The department will take no action regarding your agency's eligibility for approval from the commissioner to receive public funds for the education of students with disabilities until our review is completed," according to the state's letter.



The school's attorney, Michael Flammia, said the state's findings weren't confirmed and that the educational and psychological experts sent to investigate the school were biased against shock therapy.



"The `findings' and `reports' constitute nothing more than uninvestigated claims by team members who intentionally ignored, and refused to consider when offered, the mountain of evidence demonstrating that there is no clear and present danger and that the treatment plans for the New York students are extremely effective and safe," the school's attorney wrote to the state.



Most families that send the children to the school support the limited use of shock therapy, which isn't used in New York state. Parents and students say the shocks, similar to bee stings that last a couple seconds in sessions once a week, have been more effective than medication for students.



The state's review team made an unannounced visit to the school in the spring after complaints and a lawsuit by a parent.



The state told the school last week it must "cease certain interventions that threaten the health and safety of students at the school. Failure to do so would affect its approval to serve New York state students."



The state team criticized the school's "combined use of mechanical restraints and simultaneous application of skin shock" to some students. In addition, "many students were observed as they arrived to and from school wearing leg and wrist restraints."



?2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.



"


Maybe mild electric shock on the skin could have some beneficial effect,BUT AS A PUNISHMENT TO CAUS PAIN FOR BAD OR SLOPPY BEHAVIOR!?!?!?!?!????
Lets drive up there right not and kill those bastards now!
"Hi honey,Im home from work!I had a rough day today.I had to shock five children for combing their hair the wrong way."
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2006, 10:47:00 PM »
It's shit like this I want to throw in the face of all those demanding "regulation".  This is state sanctioned!!!!  Regulations ain't gonna do shit.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline MightyAardvark

  • Posts: 368
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2006, 04:31:00 AM »
I've seen the results you get from careful use of skinshocks. It sickens me to my stomach but the terrible truth is that in a limited number of cases it actually works. It's cruel and it's brutal but it's not as bad as the alternative (letting a 230 lb autistic kid smash his head into the wall until he goes blind for example)
This is one of those really fuzzy grey areas. Let's all remember the the JRC is not really the playing the same game as the behaviour modification industry.


Now I feel sick, but that could have been the McDonald's breakfast I just ate.
[ This Message was edited by: MightyAardvark on 2006-06-20 01:32 ]
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
see the children with their boredom and their vacant stares. God help us all if we\'re to blame for their unanswered prayers,

Billy Joel.

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2006, 09:56:00 AM »
Quote
On 2006-06-20 01:31:00, MightyAardvark wrote:

"I've seen the results you get from careful use of skinshocks. It sickens me to my stomach but the terrible truth is that in a limited number of cases it actually works. It's cruel and it's brutal but it's not as bad as the alternative (letting a 230 lb autistic kid smash his head into the wall until he goes blind for example)

<


Yes I agree with you on that,and maybe these "shocks" only make a slight sensation on the skin,and not really pain,but to do it as a "punishment" for getting out of a chair or being sloppy,thats just sick.
Its time for my "rusty box of corkscrews and cordless drill method" on these lazy sickos.
Fire bomb them all!
Maybe I should electrocuit my wife every time she scrapes my pecker with her tooth when she's giving me a blow job!
That will teach her how to suck it properly!!!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline PFRR

  • Posts: 35
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
    • http://www.pfrr.org
New York State won't stop funding shock therapy school
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2006, 11:22:00 PM »
JRC sued the state of MA years ago and won - they sue everyone, this is a tricky situation.  What is most sickest about this is parents who do send their kids there are so desperate - look at their site - very impressive, those who don't know better well or of other alternatives.  People are fighting this day and night all over the place.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »