A Zaney Life

What’s new? Definitely not the dehumanization of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sigh
P.S. This is ABA.

🚨 FDA Misses Deadline to Ban Electric Shock Devices Used on Children with Autism and Other Disabilities

As I highlighted in my post a few weeks ago, the use of electric shock devices on vulnerable children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities continues at a single facility in Massachusetts.

This week, the FDA missed its self-imposed end-of-May deadline to finalize a ban on these devices when used to address self-injurious or aggressive behaviors.

These electrical stimulation devices (ESDs) deliver often-painful shocks via electrodes strapped to the arms, legs, or torso.

At the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts—which operates approximately 50 residences—some residents wear backpacks containing the devices, with staff using remote controls to administer shocks in response to targeted behaviors.

The center currently has around 347 residents, with roughly 54 receiving shock treatments.

The United Nations has condemned this practice as a form of torture.

The FDA has long determined that these devices present an “unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury,” citing potential physical harms such as burns and tissue damage, as well as psychological effects including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The agency has also noted a lack of strong evidence supporting long-term benefits.

This issue has a long history.

The FDA first attempted a ban in 2020, which was overturned in court.

Congress then granted the FDA explicit authority in 2022 to ban devices for specific uses.

A new proposal was issued in 2024, drawing near-unanimous support from public commenters, including disability advocates, psychologists, and medical professionals.

Yet the final decision remains pending, with no explanation from the FDA.

While some families report that the shocks have reduced severe behaviors when other interventions failed, the broader medical, psychiatric, and human rights consensus strongly opposes their continued use.

Mainstream psychiatry has moved away from such aversive methods, favoring positive behavioral supports and compassionate care.

Our most vulnerable children and adults deserve evidence-based, humane treatment—not punishment through electric shocks.

This practice has no place in modern care.

Contact the FDA and your elected representatives to urge immediate finalization of the ban.