The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is organizing a protest against the Judge Rotenberg Center.
On Sunday, May 27th, the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) is holding their annual convention in the city of Seattle, Washington. As they have many times in the past, ABAI is allowing the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) to exhibit at their convention this year.
The Judge Rotenberg Center’s use of contingent electric shock, food deprivation, mechanical restraint and other “aversives” have been called out as abusive on multiple occations. In 2010, their practices were declared torture by the United Nations, which then asked the US government to intervene. Recent civil litigation has led to renewed media attention from sources ranging from the Boston Globe to Anderson Cooper’s television shows. The United States Department of Justice has targeted the Judge Rotenberg Center in an ongoing investigation of their abusive practices. For decades, disability rights advocates have worked towards one simple goal: shut the Judge Rotenberg Center down.Still, ABAI hasn’t gotten the message: the Judge Rotenberg Center’s use of torture in the name of treatment should never be given a platform. ABAI needs to disavow the Judge Rotenberg Center and other facilities which use abusive treatments.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Seattle chapter is mobilizing to tell ABAI that when it comes to the torture of disabled children and adults, the time has come for them to pick a side, condemn the Judge Rotenberg Center and stop giving them a platform.
When: Sunday, May 27th, 2012 at 12 NOON PDT
Where: Washington Convention & Trade Center Downtown
800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA 98101-2350
With pending legislation in New York and Massachusetts, we are closer now than ever before to ending the Judge Rotenberg Center’s torture of our people. Please show up to the protest and invite others to attend with you.
Places like the Judge Rotenberg Center count on the world not caring about people with disabilities to survive. They count on on society’s unwillingness to open its eyes and see Americans with disabilities as equal citizens deserving of equal rights. This Sunday, let’s prove how wrong they are. Let’s make sure our voices are heard.
Sincerely,
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
http://autisticadvocacy.org/
Left Brain Right Brain 
One thing that needs to be stressed over and over,is that The Judge Rotenberg Center may be one of the more extreme examples of abuse,but it is hardly unique.To one degree or another,this sort of stuff goes on every day at “group homes”all over the country.Every one ought to be shut down.Every resident taught to live as independently as possible.
@Roger Kulp: “…Every one ought to be shut down.Ever resident taught to live as independently as possible…”
as mentioned here too often (apologies)…JRC gets around $250,000/yr per consumer…for $250,000, most all consumers could be provided an independent, supportive living program with 1:1, 24/7, support and appropriate programing…