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Robinson '11 testifies in Rotenberg hearing
by Sarah Bayer
News | 1/29/08
Posted online at 3:16 AM EST on 1/29/08
Seven members of Brandeis Students Against the Judge Rotenberg Center attended a Jan. 16 hearing of the Massachusetts legislature's Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, which is considering six bills intended to scale back or eliminate the practices of the Judge Rotenberg Center, a school for children with special needs located in Canton, Mass.
The hearings were about aversive shock therapy's safety and effectiveness in treating behavioral disorders. House Bill H109 bans the use of aversive shock in the commonwealth of Massachusetts; another bill limits it to severe cases, and the students said the other four bills add technical details to the original two.
Nathan J. Robinson '11 testified before the committee on behalf of the campus group, which is seeking to stop the use of aversive shock therapy at the center largely through measures such as letter-writing campaigns, calling state legislators and posting on political blogs. The students also presented a petition signed by 644 Brandeis students calling for JRC's closure.
Robinson presented the petition and discussed how BSAJRC got started. He testified about the group's moral objections to aversive shock, including the fact that there are no scientific or legal assertions in support of shock therapy.
Robinson described his experience testifying as "very, very intimidating" because it was preceded by hours of listening to "depressing and moving" testimony by parents of JRC students favorable to the center.
In response to JRC founder Dr. Matthew Israel's testimony discussing measures taken to prevent mistaken shocks, club member Liza Behrendt '11 said she was surprised at "how unknowledgeable he was about his own institution." Lev Hirschhorn '11 said the hearings helped him realize "the sorry state of the medical system in America" that treats those with disabilities as criminals.
Robinson expressed emotional apprehension over the issue, and said that a parent approached him after the hearing and told him, "'You're young, and you don't understand.'"
The hearings were about aversive shock therapy's safety and effectiveness in treating behavioral disorders. House Bill H109 bans the use of aversive shock in the commonwealth of Massachusetts; another bill limits it to severe cases, and the students said the other four bills add technical details to the original two.
Nathan J. Robinson '11 testified before the committee on behalf of the campus group, which is seeking to stop the use of aversive shock therapy at the center largely through measures such as letter-writing campaigns, calling state legislators and posting on political blogs. The students also presented a petition signed by 644 Brandeis students calling for JRC's closure.
Robinson presented the petition and discussed how BSAJRC got started. He testified about the group's moral objections to aversive shock, including the fact that there are no scientific or legal assertions in support of shock therapy.
Robinson described his experience testifying as "very, very intimidating" because it was preceded by hours of listening to "depressing and moving" testimony by parents of JRC students favorable to the center.
In response to JRC founder Dr. Matthew Israel's testimony discussing measures taken to prevent mistaken shocks, club member Liza Behrendt '11 said she was surprised at "how unknowledgeable he was about his own institution." Lev Hirschhorn '11 said the hearings helped him realize "the sorry state of the medical system in America" that treats those with disabilities as criminals.
Robinson expressed emotional apprehension over the issue, and said that a parent approached him after the hearing and told him, "'You're young, and you don't understand.'"
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
Kenneth M. Mollins, Esq.
posted 1/29/08 @ 7:53 AM EST
I had the pleasure of speaking with the Brandeis students at the hearing and I was extremely impressed for many reasons. I found the students not only to be passionate about the issue but also they were knowledgable, articulate and respectful of the differing opinions expressed at the hearing. (Continued…)
Gern
posted 1/30/08 @ 10:45 AM EST
Tasers work. Ask any law enforcement officer.
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