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Encourage Massachusetts Legislators to Support Humane Treatment for People with Disabilities
  1. Signatures
    6 out of 100
    Petitioning
    1. Representative (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Representative (Kay Khan)
      • Senator (Gale D. Candaras)
  2. Created By
    Derrick Jeffries
    Portland, OR
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

Let's tell Massachusetts legislators that the citizens of Massachusetts, the United States, and the world oppose "treatment" that inflicts pain upon children and adults who have disabling conditions.  It is not acceptable for the State of Massachusetts to fund any facility or organization that uses techniques such as food deprivation, electric skin shock or mechanical restraint to "treat" self injurious behavior (SIB) or any other type of behavior associated with a disabling or challenging condition.  Please encourage the MA legislators to fully support H-154 http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00pdf/ht00154.pdf

Please read Jennifer Gonnerman's article in Mother Jones Magazine for an example of why this legislation is so important. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/school-shock

Legislators from the Commitee on Children and Families will meet on October 27th to consider this and other bills.  It is urgent that we encourage them to move this bill forward and pass it.

Recent Signatures

Please Support H-154

Dear Representative

Please support House Bill 154, "An Act Relative to the Humane Treatment of Disabled Persons." It is not acceptable for "treatment" that includes contingent electric skin shock, food deprivation, mechanical restraint, and other aversive techniques to be used on disabled/challenged people within your state.

House Bill 154, which is sponsored by Representative Barbara L'Italien, is the only bill under your consideration that will completely ban state funding for "treatment" that inflicts pain and suffering upon people who have done nothing to deserve such torture.

Please support only this bill and not other bills that seek to legislate the use of aversives. A total ban is the only humane option.

I am also requesting that copies of this letter be made and distributed to committee members.

[Your name]