Occupy JRC

This is a response from seeing the horrors that go on at the Judge Rotenburg Center (JRC). If you google this center, you'll see quite a few blogs along with the official website for the place. But just recently, I found out what this center was all about. Apparently, they use electro-shock therapy on their students who have special needs. The Judge Rotenburg Center uses this as a therapy, but in reality, they are using it as punishment. The end result is the student is so traumatized, he or she will never be the same. The student would have to go through years and years of therapy. No person should have to go through that, especially those with disabilities.

The first incident I've heard about is when the JRC was put on trial for the abuse of Andre McCollins. He was tied down and shocked 31 times. Here is the link to the video shown in court, but I will warn you, it is very graphic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAj9W0ntUMI

Are you guys still with me? I know this stuff is pretty heavy. You're disgusted, right? I am too. I have included all the links from the video description here if you don't think you'll be able to watch that video. I don't blame ya, I could hardly stand watching it myself.

Here is another news article about this:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/school-shock


Here is the first-hand coverage from a blogger that attended the trial:

http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-one/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-two/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-3/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-4/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-5/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-judge-rotenberg-center-on-trial-part-6/
http://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/the-jrc-on-trial-part-7/

Here is the occupy JRC link, in which unfortunately, I did not know about until after it was over... but the job is not done yet, which is why I've made this entry title: Occupy JRC. The job will not be done until the abuse is stopped:

http://occupyjrc.org/

And here is the petition (the petition has since been closed, but that doesn't mean we can't still fight):
http://www.change.org/petitions/massachusetts-representatives-please-stop-painful-electric-shocks-on-students-at-jrc-in-massachusetts

Here is more information on this subject:

http://www.facebook.com/endabuseinschool


I am sorry that this entry is heavy with links, but I felt it was crucial to getting my point across. I ask you guys to please sign the petition, and end the abuse.

Until next time, God Bless.
~ MissNiChloe

How Superheroes bring us hope

For years, superheroes have given people hope for the future, to the young, and the old, to the males and the females, to the gifted and the disabled... Superheroes of all kinds have given us hope over the years. I've heard news stories about how loved ones have been creative with using these heroes to make life better. The most recent story I heard is how a mother used The Avengers to help her comic book loving son. If you have't seen The Avengers yet, I'd strongly recommend it, it's a very good movie.

Here is the story: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7410472n&tag=strip

I was touched by this story. I have a hearing impairment and an active imagination. The one superhero I've always looked up to was Superman, but I loved all the superheroes. I remember when I was a little girl, I was bullied back then too. I used to pretend I was either one of the superheroes to fight alongside Superman, or I was the one behind the scenes giving information to the Superheroes, both times, pretending my hearing aid was a communicator (think Watchtower from Smallville). What's funny is that in my favorite show, Smallville, there was a character named Chloe Sullivan who became Watchtower and did exactly what I pretended to do as a little girl. I did not write the character of Chloe Sullivan though.

Chloe Sullivan may only be a supporting character to the Superman mythology, in fact, she wasn't in the original mythology, but the character of Chloe Sullivan gives me hope because of the hurt she's been through and how she survived and succeeded. In a way, she's a hero as well. She makes a difference and that's what I hope to do someday. Before Chloe Sullivan, I've always thought of myself as a Supergirl or Lois Lane and even now, whenever I'm faced with something, I ask myself, what would Supergirl or Superman do or what would Chloe Sullivan or Lois Lane do?

There's quite a few stories that's still very clear to my mind where I asked what would Chloe Sullivan do or what would Supergirl do, stories where I feel I've made a difference. But for now, everyone thinks of me as a clumsy college student.


What superhero or supporting character gives you hope for the future? Do you have any stories in which you have asked what your hero would do?


Until next time, God Bless.
- MissNiChloe