How can this be happening to children in the U.S.A.??? I can't believe that our government and the people of Mass are letting this go on. This is so cruel to do this to children or anyone!!

After thirty years of behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy there are some individuals who do no respond except to a systematic, orderly, administration of shocks paired with reinforcers that will allow us to shape the behavior in a consistent direction where positive management can manitain the control.

Another death occured as a rewsult of JRC. A student jumped out the back of a bus on route #95 in Massachusettes and died. JRC has trouble retaining good emplyees because of the level of pay. Mr Isreal seems to clean up in that department!

And for a fully fomatted version of my response to Ms.Gonnerman's article, please see http://www.judgerc.org/ResponsetoGonnermanArticle.pdf Matthew L. Israel, Ph.D. Executive Director Judge Rotenberg Educational Center

how is this even legal, do these kids have criminal records? HAve they hurt anyone or themselves. I mean what the f man

As I have written in other blogs; I worked at the school in the office; and while I never administered any treaments; I saw a marked improvement in the students from when they first arrived at the school. The GED device while controversial works and is an effective form of treatment for students with the worst form of destructive behaviors that I have seen. The incident that the other person mentioned about the student that died in the bus is something that I will never forget. But, the reality is that this student was (If I remember correctly) was schizoprenic and delusional and he thought someone was chasing him. Therefore, being a big person, he was about 6 feet tall and stalky; he ran to the back of the bus while the bus was in motion and he forced his way through 2 direct care providers and pushed them out of the way; and he managed to get the latch open and jumped to his death. I believe the bus was traveling the speed limit. (maybe 60 miles an hour) This was of course tragic both for the parents and the staff at JRC. At no time; did JRC try to hide the facts or cover it up; it simply was a tragic accident. In the years that JRC has been opened; I believe there have been minimal deaths and minimal hospitalizations in regards to the students. I won't ever forget that day. The school takes the most difficult and hard to treat cases, with amazing results.

Anita finally someone that has some experience with these students. They are well taken care of at JRC. I was really surprised at how good the care was. Before I worked there, I had just an image of what I might encounter. After being there for a while; I was really surprised. Someone said that they use the GED while a student is strapped to a board. I had never seen that in my 2 years there.? I have seen students come in on stretchers from other facilities looking awful and disorientated. I also didn't know that they take students from jails.? Never saw that while I was there either. I just know that I had a nice bond with some of the higher functioning kids and they were doing awesome before I left.

my brother Antonio Manon goes there i would hate it if i was to see that happne to my brother let him free i miss him soo much come home

I have a son with autism. Once severly effected, with love and therapies this child has blossomed into a engaging, fun and social little 7 year old boy. I would NEVER allow this to be used on my child! I am appalled at this program.

We are writing from Germany. Dr Israel, aged 74, is obviously using methods he heard about here in the Nazi period . . .