The United Nations named the use of the Gradual Electronic Decelerator (GED), a device that shocks people with disabilities, as torture as early as 2013. But in 2022, ABAI, the governing body of ABA, continues to endorse the only institution in the United States that uses this torture. Not only that, but ABAI allows them to sponsor and present at their conferences – including a presentation on the ethics and merits of the very device.

This is unacceptable. 

The Judge Rotenberg Center is presenting at ABAI’s conference TODAY. Let’s flood ABAI’s conference hashtags, #ABAIBoston #ABAI2022, with the truth about the JRC and ABA, and demand that ABAI denounce the JRC and remove them as a sponsor, vendor, and presenter.

Learn more in the email below:

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Autistic Self Advocacy Network <[email protected]>

Date: 5/24/2022

Subject: Action Alert: ABAI endorses torture, and we can’t let them rest.

Torturers being allowed to present at a conference on the merits of their torture: that’s exactly what is happening at the ABAI conference this Thursday through Monday. ABAI is the Association for Behavioral Analysis International, the governing body of ABA practitioners. ABAI accredits ABA programs, which means they give the power to continue to do ABA based on meeting certain standards. ABAI has continued to endorse the Judge Rotenberg Center, and allows them to sponsor and present at their conferences.

One of the JRC's presentations at this conference specifically focuses on the merits and ethics of the electric shock device. This means that ABAI is more than complicit in the abuse taking place at the JRC: they are actively endorsing these practices.

This year, the ABAI conference is being held in Boston from Thursday, May 26 through Monday, May 30th. Once the conference starts, let’s flood their hashtags, #ABAIBoston #ABAI2022, with the truth about the JRC and ABA, and demand that ABAI denounce the JRC and remove them as a sponsor, vendor, and presenter. Use the hashtag #StopTheShock to let them know that their active endorsement of torture will not go unnoticed.

You can use our updated fact sheet to explain why this is unacceptable and fight back against the JRC’s twisted words. Urge the leadership of ABAI to stand against the use of this device at the Judge Rotenberg Center, an institution that has been at the center of controversy for many years because of its continued use of this torture.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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