Massachusetts is on the verge of a historic decision that could end one of the most controversial and painful practices used against disabled individuals in the United States. The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities will soon hold a hearing on House Bill H.245, which is legislation that would permanently ban the use of the Graduated Electronic Decelerator (GED) shock device and other aversive practices in residential programs.
The hearing date has not yet been announced, but is expected to be scheduled soon with about two weeks’ notice. Advocates are urging the public to prepare testimony, contact legislators, and mobilize in support of the bill to ensure Massachusetts finally takes decisive action to stop these harmful practices.
The GED Shock Device and Its Legacy
The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Canton, Massachusetts, is the only facility in the nation that uses the GED, a device designed to deliver painful electrical shocks directly to the skin as a form of behavioral control. Originally pitched as a “last resort” for self-injurious and aggressive behaviors, the GED has instead been used for minor acts of noncompliance, such as swearing, stimming, or refusing to remove a jacket, according to media reports and lived experience.
Numerous former residents have described the torment they endured from these devices. In one notorious case, a student was shocked 31 times in a single incident for refusing to remove his coat. Another was shocked dozens of times after staff followed the directions of a prank caller. Survivors have spoken about lasting burns, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and feelings of desperation so severe that they begged for death to escape the pain.
The United Nations has declared this practice a form of torture. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the device, but that ruling was overturned in federal court due to a jurisdictional technicality. As a result, the decision on whether these methods continue now lies squarely in the hands of Massachusetts lawmakers.
Why H.245 Matters
The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), which submitted comments in support of the FDA ban, has made clear that electric shocks and aversive methods are not only dangerous but also ineffective.
Research shows that punishment-based approaches cause harm without producing lasting positive change. Self-injurious and aggressive behaviors often stem from trauma, unmet needs, or neurological differences—not willful disobedience—and must be approached with trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative strategies.
As AASR emphasized in its statement to the FDA, “Failing to address the underlying causes could lead to an increase in behaviors, the exacerbation of underlying issues, and negative impacts on the brain’s ability to learn alternative responses.” Humane, evidence-based alternatives exist, making the continued use of aversive “therapies” both indefensible and unnecessary.
Passing H.245 is, therefore, more than a local policy change. It represents a broader commitment to protecting disabled individuals’ human rights and dignity.
How to Participate in the Hearing
The upcoming hearing on H.245 is open to the public, offering multiple ways to engage:
- Oral Testimony: Registration will be required in advance, though time-permitting, same-day testimony will also be permitted. Individual testimony will be limited to 3 minutes, while panels will have up to 6 minutes.
- Written Testimony: Submissions may be emailed to JointCommittee.Children&Families@malegislature.gov and will be accepted until the committee acts on the bill. Written testimony is compelling for those unable to attend in person.
- Legislative Advocacy: Supporters can write or call their state representatives and senators, urging them to back H.245. A pre-written letter campaign is available online to make outreach simple and accessible.
Additional Actions Supporters Can Take
- Send letters to legislators: A pre-written advocacy letter is available through the Stop the Shock campaign.
- Donate to advocacy efforts: Funds are needed for community education, art exhibits, professional signs, transportation, and accessibility supports to strengthen advocacy.
- Spread the word: Share information from stoptheshock.info and encourage others to get involved.
Advocates will also host a pre-hearing meeting the week before the event to prepare testimony and coordinate strategies.
It’s Time to Take Action
For decades, disabled people and their allies have fought to end the sanctioned use of torture in the name of therapy. With H.245, Massachusetts lawmakers now have the chance to right a profound injustice and protect some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
This is not simply a policy debate—it is a test of values. The question before legislators is whether society will continue to permit pain and punishment as “treatment,” or whether it will affirm the dignity, safety, and humanity of disabled individuals.
The time is now. The opportunity is here. Massachusetts must act to stop the shock.
