03-09-2007, 04:10 PM
03-09-2007, 04:30 PM
There has to be a better way!
03-09-2007, 05:33 PM
What they're suggesting is ludicrous and their logic justifying it is totally off - "Most of the time, if he starts acting up and beating his head, we just show it to him and that's sufficient" ... "She says the shock is tiny, "like walking on carpeting and touching a light switch,"".
Right, so it hurts him so he stops misbehaving... but it doesn't hurt him? Huh?
This is similar to the Judge Rotenburg Centre case; total injustice and uneccessary cruelty to autistics.
Right, so it hurts him so he stops misbehaving... but it doesn't hurt him? Huh?
This is similar to the Judge Rotenburg Centre case; total injustice and uneccessary cruelty to autistics.
03-09-2007, 09:40 PM
I agree with Richard. They shouldn't be doing anything to their kid as punishment that they wouldn't be willing to submit to themselves.
03-09-2007, 10:33 PM
<b>But Fran Bernstein says her son, who has cataracts, stopped banging his head when the shock was threatened, lessening his eye damage. </b>
Umm, what? Am I missing something here? I don't think cataracts are caused by banging your head.
Umm, what? Am I missing something here? I don't think cataracts are caused by banging your head.
03-10-2007, 02:29 AM
Why not just get the guy a helmet!? Then he can bang his head in safety, all he likes...
And yeah: That's definitely child abuse.
And yeah: That's definitely child abuse.
03-10-2007, 07:00 AM
Callista Wrote:
Why not just get the guy a helmet!? Then he can bang his head in safety, all he likes...
And yeah: That's definitely child abuse.
And yeah: That's definitely child abuse.
I was wondering the same thing, if he had a helmet, his head would be protected. I hope that the child is removed from that abusive situation.
03-10-2007, 05:05 PM
It's not like there are no alternatives to using a cattle prod. The problem isn't, "Use a cattle prod or have your son go blind", it's "use a cattle prod or find some other, humane, way to stop him banging his head".
03-12-2007, 08:33 AM
Thought about. Considered. Not engaging in groupthink at all. And yet, am still thinking,
What the...?
That is abuse. I hate to say this, but if there is really no alternative, then maybe these parents are no longer the best people to be taking care of their son.
Besides, what might be perfectly reasonable for NT parents may not feel that way from their son's perspective -- especially with heightened sensory issues.
What the...?
That is abuse. I hate to say this, but if there is really no alternative, then maybe these parents are no longer the best people to be taking care of their son.
Besides, what might be perfectly reasonable for NT parents may not feel that way from their son's perspective -- especially with heightened sensory issues.
03-25-2007, 08:20 PM
Re. Solana's quote: There simply have to be methods other than such an extreme and painful one. Some other form of behavior therapy, or at least a milder aversive. Why not put so much foam-rubber padding on the outside of the helmet that he can't effectively even feel the head-banging, and thus get no satisfaction out of it, and have to find something else? Sure, he'd look like a big dandelion for a while, but if it works...!
Why do these parents not have help with their son--someone who is capable of preventing him from hurting himself? When parents of special-needs people don't have help they need, it's just a recipe for tragedy.
Why do these parents not have help with their son--someone who is capable of preventing him from hurting himself? When parents of special-needs people don't have help they need, it's just a recipe for tragedy.
04-18-2007, 05:24 AM
Solana Wrote:
For two, while the phrase "cattle prod" saunds inhumane, my suspicion is that it's sensationalist. It SOUNDS terrible so it makes for a great news item. But I have never felt a cattle prod. Have you? It might not be that bad. It might in fact be an extremely humane way to modify his behaviour. I don't KNOW- I'm just saying that one should not jump to conclusions.
It is terrible. I know, because I had an evil stepfather who routinely nailed me with a stun gun (that was intended for dogs). Cattle prods are more painful. I haven't felt one, but let's say that it's about the same as you'd get from an electric fence. Youch!!!
Solana, I suggest that you drive out to the country, find an electric fence, and nudge it a time or two. Then imagine someone doing this to you whenever *they* thought it was a good idea, and get back to us.
Lastly, the mother says that she only does it when he's in danger of self-injuring himself or others, but as many autistics here have probably experienced, our parents aren't always honest about these things. Maybe she also uses it an an aversive when he stims or engages in non-violent autistic behavior that she finds hard to deal with. Since he can't talk, there's really no way for us to know, is there?
04-19-2007, 02:46 AM
Actually, it feels an awful lot like sticking your finger into a light socket. The pain only lingers for a few seconds, but it is deeply, impressively unpleasant.
10-16-2007, 10:00 AM
Yeah, I wonder how the parents would like it if somebody used a cattle prod on them? I'll bet they wouldn't like it one little bit!
10-16-2007, 11:42 AM
It's better not to be shocked by either!
10-16-2007, 12:27 PM
Proud2LuvNAspie Wrote:
Well, its better being shocked with a cattle prod than with a taser gun.
And I suppose it is better to be emotionally abused than physically abused?
Or better to be hit with a fist than a stick?
What part of 'violence against another is always wrong' doesn't apply to the disabled?
