how can we stop this torture of autistic children?

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Let said violent inmates know what those pissants are in for. I bet many of them had been abused as children by authority figures who were supposed to help them.

excellent idea!

This is so cruel and disturbing its like war torture

I don't think torturing those responsible (who *are* only following ze orders) should be done. Locking them up indefinitely, keeping them away from civilised human beings? Sure. Give them each an ensuite cell and (restricted) internet access, and they can collect their meals at the appointed time; other than that, have nothing to do with them, until they are willing to grovel for forgiveness at the feet of those they abused.

They dont deserve internet access, or a tv. leave them in a cell with nothing to do but stare at the four walls, permanently. in isolated confinement, no human contact, no books, nothing. just to sit and think about what they've done, for the rest of their miserable lives.

^This.

Thank you.

Torture is not therapy, and Lovaas and his behaviourist acolytes should be stripped of their academic degrees and kicked out of the profession for good, to send a strong professional message that what is being done to these hapless children is torture, just as homosexuals were once tortured by behaviourists to "reform their behviour choices". That ordinary Americans allow this to continue is backed up by the refusal by the USA to become a signatory to United Nations Conventions which protect children from abuse. The USA is about the only Western country not to have signed, and you have to wonder who and what the politicians stand to gain by the continued refusal. There needs to be high level diplomatic and political action to protect children from such harms, not just the (worthwhile) effort to close down this particular child-torture centre. It doesn't and can't happen in New Zealand, and could not, because we are signatory to the UN Convention on the rights of the child - these are rights of protection, and they need to be codified to stop political exploitation by various sector groups such as these behaviourist psychologists claiming that it is "curative" or "therapeutic" and "for their own good". The latter is the abuser's mantra, gives them away straight off in most cases, and shows their true colours. (PS, if you are in general agreement with what I have expressed, you may find Alice Miller's books very interesting concerning the adult excuses which justify abuse and the profound damage done to the children by allowing this hypocrisy to go unchallenged.)

I tried to correct the post but some gremlin got in the way - the USA has signed but not ratified the convention. Ratification means that a country has to incorporate the principles of the convention into its laws to localise the protections and give effect to them so that they are more than good intentions.

Currently, only the USA and Somalia are equals in ignoring ratification.

If I had to make a guess, I'd say those US legislators standing in the way of implementation of said principles are the ones who represent those crackers who believe in "reparative" therapy for gays.

Apparently there is Republican opposition. There is a petition:

http://www.childrightscampaign.org/take ... t/petition

Signed it!

Good one!

This is not a redneck/tea party problem. The place is located in Massachusetts and 90% of the children that are sentenced there are from New York City. The "progressive" Mayor de Blasio just made it easier to sentence more New York City students to the torture chamber. http://www.propublica.org/article/nyc-sends-30-million-a-year-to-school-with-history-of-giving-kids-shocks. Politicians allow it for all too familiar reasons. They listen the the fanatical parents who think the prison produces miracles rather then the disabilities advocates. The place is named for the Judge that kept the place open in the 1980's!! !!

The place is much more of stain on the USA then Guantanamo.

If the convention was ratified by the USA, the centre and others like it would have to be closed, or the USA would be in breach of its international obligations. So it is a goal worth working for, IMO..

I had not known that about de Blasio, as I had taken him for a cool guy. Mayhap someone ought to start a petition directed at him to stop this.