Autism's Rotenberg Dilemna

In Autism, Aversives and the Rotenberg School of Shock I set out excerpts from the Mother Jones Article School of Shock which described the use of aversives in treating autism and teen behavior issues at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center. I commented on that article, expressing my own dismay that the use of electric shock aversives are still permitted in the US today. Matthew Israel, Ph. D. Executive Director of the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center provided a comment which can be found at that location and directs readers to go to a JRC site where Dr. Israel's response to the Mother Jones article, RESPONSE TO JENNIFER GONNERMAN’S ARTICLE, “SCHOOL OF SHOCK” , can be found.

I didn't find time to take a look at Dr. Israel's response until yesterday after being spurred to do so by reading some of the typical Neurodiversity, holier than thou, blogger commentary on Dr. Israel's response. I found that the "autism is wonderful crowd", while expressing the indignation that is almost invariably found in their commentary, did not really rebut or even address the very serious issues raised by Dr. Israel. In his response Dr. Israel referenced some extremely serious, even deadly, self injurious behavior, engaged in by some autistic children, including head banging to the point of brain injury, chewing of cheeks until holes are created, and self starvation.

Dr. Israel's position, as I understand it, is that even ABA, without the use of aversives, is not always able to address these dangerous behaviors. With the use of a mild two second shock, ABA techniques are used at the Rotenberg Center to satisfactorily address these dangerous behaviors and prevent further injury to autistic children and youths. The alternatives are to simply allow these behaviors and injuries to continue or to resort to undesirable treatments like psychotropic drugs and persistent use of restraints or isolation.

If I have misunderstood Dr. Israel's Response on behalf of the Rotenberg Center then I hope that he will again visit this site and correct me. If I did not then I would invite any professional with actual knowledge of these issues who might read this site to offer comment. Either to confirm the elements of Dr. Israel's response or refute them, in whole or in part.

I know that dangerous and even deadly self injurious behaviors are engaged in by some autistic persons. As the father of a profoundly autistic son I have seen him injure himself by biting and almost cause injury to family members. So far, we have dealt with such behavior through the use of non-aversive ABA approaches but that might or might not be sufficient as my son advances through the destabilizing puberty years. I take these issues seriously and I know that it is necessary to look at the hard realities and make hard choices. Information, and evidence, is critical in such difficult decision making.

I reacted with an "oh, no, are they still doing this" response to the story about the Rotenberg center's use of aversives in treating autism but Dr. Israel's response has given me pause to reconsider my knee jerk reaction. If anyone has any hard information and informed comment they can offer in considering these issues your comments will be welcomed.

It is one thing to say the Rotenberg center methods are cruel and inhumane. It is another thing entirely to provide a more satisfactory, effective, alternative in treating some dangerous and deadly autistic behaviors.

That is the Rotenberg dilemna.