Thread by @thinkingautism

Tomorrow, April 24, is a day of action for our community—one in which you can take action to #StopTheShock, and call for an end to the torture of #autistic & disabled people at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Massachusetts. How? @autselfadvocacy
is on it. #neurodiversity
1/

@autselfadvocacy First, background: "On April 24, 2014, @US_FDA held a hearing on the use of electric shock torture at the Judge Rotenberg Center. After concluding the JRC’s electric shock devices cannot be used w/o causing significant harm, the FDA began to work toward banning the devices.” 2/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA "Five years later, we are still waiting for the ban. This April 24th, the disability community is marking the fifth anniversary of the hearing by hosting wait-ins across the nation to demand the immediate release of the ban on electric shock devices” #StopTheShock 3/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA Join @autselfadvocacy and make your voice heard at your local #StopTheShock wait-in! If you can’t join IRL, ASAN is also hosting a virtual wait-in. Details for all events:

autisticadvocacy.org/stoptheshock/f… 4/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA To be clear, it is not only #autistic and disabled people who are outraged that the JRC is shocking autistic people and calling it “treatment.” The JRC was investigated by the @UN’s torture expert.

web.archive.org/web/2013101702… #StopTheShock 5/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA @UN Reasons the JRC shocks #autistic people:

-Flapping their hands
-Standing up without permission
-Swearing
-Not taking off a coat
-Involuntary noises or movements that they
make because of their disability
-Screaming in pain while being shocked

autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/upl… 6/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA @UN So why hasn’t @US_FDA made good on its 5-year-old promise to #StopTheShock at the JRC?

Maybe its because the ABA industry keeps selling their behavior suppression techniques, including JRC “aversives,” instead of trying to understand autistic traits?

abainternational.org/events/program… 7/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA @UN Meanwhile, the @US_FDA just approved an electronic device that uses a “mild shock” to treat ADHD traits in kids age 7-12. Side effects that include "drowsiness, an increase in appetite, trouble sleeping, teeth clenching, headaches, & fatigue.” #sideeye

gizmodo.com/a-treatment-th… 8/

@autselfadvocacy @US_FDA @UN #StopTheShock tl;dr:

Autistic ppl do not want to be tortured for being #autistic; non-autistic ppl want to shock autistic ppl so they won’t act autistic (or for profit). @US_FDA said it would ban JRC shocks; it hasn’t. You can help make this stop:

autisticadvocacy.org/stoptheshock/ 9/9

@threadreaderapp please unroll. Thanks!