ABSTRACTABSTRACT
Throughout the world, individuals with disabilities are victim to what are termed "aversive interventions" to control behaviors that are associated with their disabilities. Aversive procedures use painful stimuli in response to behaviors that are deemed unacceptable by heir caregivers. All aversive techniques have in common the application of physically or emotionally painful stimuli.. Aversive procedures include electric shock, water spray, prolonged physical isolation or restraint, forced exercise and other techniques. They are used without the consent of the victim and typically, without the informed consent of a guardian.
These techniques are inappropriately used, not only to control dangerous behaviors, but also to modify behaviors that are simply idiosyncratic (moaning or twisting one's hair), unusual (tics or rocking) or are inconvenient to caregivers (getting out of one's assigned seat or refusing to perform a task).
Although it has been believed that such procedures are necessary to control dangerous or disruptive behaviors, it has now been irrefutably proven that a wide range of methods are available which are not only more effective in managing dangerous or disruptive behaviors, but which do not inflict pain on, humiliate, or dehumanize individuals with disabilities. Alternative approaches that are proven to be effective attempt to identify the individual's purposes in behaving as he or she does and offer support and education to replace dangerous or disruptive behaviors with alternative behaviors that will achieve the individual's needs.
People with mental retardation and other disabilities make up one of the most devalued segments of the population. Abuses are imposed on them which would not be tolerated if they were applied to the elderly, school children, prisoners, or even animals. Individuals with disabilities who act in ways that are dangerous deserve at least the same protections afforded prisoners against cruel and unusual punishment. Additionally, they have a right to treatment that is both humane and effective.
This paper calls on disability and human rights organizations worldwide to publicize the cause of this vulnerable population and to take action against these continued abuses.
Amnesty International has defined torture as "the systematic and deliberate infliction of acute pain in any form by one person on another or on a third person in order to accomplish the purpose of the former against the will of the latter". This paper calls attention to the use of techniques that inflict pain for the purpose of changing the behavior of one of our most vulnerable populations, children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Consider the following examples. Each of these is an example of actions taken in response to an approved behavior program.
The young man made a low grunting noise under his breath as he sat at his work carrel sorting objects. His attendant was behind him almost immediately. "No inappropriate noises!" the attendant shouted. At the same time he grasped the young man's head, tipping it back so that he could insert into his nose the pointed tip of a plastic squeeze bottle into which he had just broken an ammonia capsule.
Several hours later this same young man stole a glance at the visitors who were there to observe him. "Eyes on work!", came the shout. The young man raised his arms, eyes blinking, as if in surrender, as the attendant grabbed the pressurized water hose. He was sprayed in the face for several minutes until he was sputtering and his shirt was soaked. Then, with the helpless look of one resigned to the bleakness of his situation, he returned to the task in front of him, not even pausing to wipe the water from his eyes.
When Linda refused to get out of bed, she was sprayed in the face with water every five minutes. If, during the day she left her classroom, she would be restrained by two attendants, using hand restraints behind her back. She was then forced to inhale ammonia fumes for five seconds. If Linda held her breath, she was tickled to assure that the ammonia fumes were inhaled.
In 1989, a court approved the use of an electric shock helmet for a young man for the exhibition of the following behaviors: head shaking, breaking objects, applying pressure to his collarbone, getting out of his seat, getting out of bed, walking or running away from the group, blinking his eyes rapidly, holding his head to his shoulder, leg shaking, and clicking his teeth.
These are examples of a phenomenon that affects hundreds of individuals in the United States daily. Individuals who have mental retardation or other disabilities have become the victims of aversive techniques. Although it is widely believed that such procedures are necessary to control dangerous or disruptive behaviors, professionals now acknowledge that a wide range of positive interventions are available which are at least as effective in managing dangerous behaviors, and which do not inflict pain on, or dehumanize individuals with disabilities.