Judge Rotenberg Centre – The Response

Matthew Israel, the executive director of the Judge Rotenberg Centre, has released this in response to recent media attention.

http://www.judgerc.org/responsetoblogs.pdf

I’ll let you decide what you think.  Wherever the truth lies, whether it’s with the media coverage, Israel or somewhere in the middle, I’m left feeling very, very uneasy…and wanting to urge all parents of kids with disabilities to make it their business to know *exactly* what is going on with their children in all the areas in which they receive support from other institutions (including public/private schools, hospitals, group home settings, day care settings).

Find out the questions that you need to ask and ask them.

Educate yourself on what legally can and can’t happen regarding support for your child.

Don’t ever be pressured into signing something (I’m not suggesting that this happened at the Rotenberg Centre; it’s just a good practice on principle.)  You should have the freedom to take a document away, look it over, and bring it back.  If you don’t, find out why.

Check out these other blogs to see what people are saying about the Judge Rotenberg Centre:

http://uppitydisability.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-14-07-blogging-against-aversives.html

http://lastcrazyhorn.wordpress.com
http://stirthis.blogspot.com/2008/01/on-culture-of-punishment.html
http://trinityva.livejournal.com/744340.html
http://mybignoise.blogspot.com/2007/01/were-better-than-this-aversive-therapy.html
http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/false-dilemmas-how-to-sell-pain
http://disstud.blogspot.com/2008/01/whatever-works-is-not-free-pass-for.html
http://growingupwithadisability.blogspot.com/2008/01/blogging-against-aversive-therapy.html
http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/2008/01/blogging-against-aversives-little-late.html