On April 24th, 2014, the FDA held their first hearing regarding the use of shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center. That hearing was the result of decades of advocacy. Every year since then, activists have pushed the FDA closer to releasing a rule to end the use of shock devices on our community members. Thanks to your advocacy, this year the ban is on the FDA’s legislative agenda, and we’re closer than ever to ending electric shock torture at the JRC. We can’t stop now — we have to keep up the pressure on the FDA until they #StopTheShock for good. You know what to do! Check out the email below for scripts and tips.
How have you taken an action to #StopTheShock? Let us know by tweeting #WeAreStillWaiting along with what you’re doing to fight back. Remember, you can spend as little as five minutes or five seconds during your day to help end the use of shock torture against our community members. Acceptance is an action-we’re counting on you to take it.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Autistic Self Advocacy Network <info@autisticadvocacy.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Subject: 📣 Acceptance is an Action. #StopTheShock with us this Autism Acceptance Month 📣
Autism Acceptance Month is now underway. Acceptance is not passive—it is an action, and that includes taking action when members of our community are in danger. Last April, we began a campaign to #StopTheShock at the Judge Rotenberg Center, where autistic people and those with other disabilities are currently being tortured using electric shock devices. The FDA has announced plans to ban these devices, but they have not released the ban yet. We need YOU to tell them that #WeAreStillWaiting and demand that they act NOW to #StopTheShock.
Here’s how we’re telling the FDA that we’re watching out for our community members:
- Organizing “wait-ins” on April 24th. This can be anything from setting up an information table in a public place to hosting a letter-writing event, making a poster or art display in a high-traffic area, or asking people passing by to take a selfie and spread the word.
- Calling or emailing the FDA and telling them to release the regulation ending the use of shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center.
- Calling or emailing your elected officials and telling them to sign a letter asking the FDA to #StopTheShock.
- Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor for your local newspaper letting your neighborhood know why it is so important to #StopTheShock. We provide a template to help you get started. Be sure to send us the article once it is published!
- Taking selfies and making posts to spread the word and get your friends involved. Check out our social media kit for more ideas, and make sure to use the hashtags #WeAreStillWaiting and #StopTheShock!
April 24th will mark five years since the first FDA hearing on electric shock devices. In those five years, our community members have faced torture at the Judge Rotenberg Center. We are closer than ever to seeing these dangerous devices banned for good, but #WeAreStillWaiting – and so are they. Join us to #StopTheShock now!
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
